"Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth."
Job 12:15
Part 1
Through his book, Job over and over speaks to God’s power, His control over everything, and especially His sovereignty over His creation. In this chapter he has much to say about God’s power over men, and men’s leaders, and even men’s thinking. In our verse for today, Job gives his thoughts about God’s power over a part of His creation.
“Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up:”
Something seemingly as simple as water is under the control of the Creator. He has put His water in the clouds and on His earth where He designed it to be.
“When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth,” (Proverbs 8:28-29):
“He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses,” (Psalm 33:7).
He is the one who has set up the water cycle and gives the rain.
“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit,” (Leviticus 26:4).
And for His reasons, He can withhold His rain.
“He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them,” (Job 26:8).
“And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you,” (Deuteronomy 11:17).
Whether it is a river, well, spring, or clouds with rain, when God withholds the water there is going to be a drought. Then the springs stop flowing, the rivers and lakes dry up, the land suffers as do the crops and animals.
King Ahab learned the hard way that God is in control of the rain.
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word,” (1 Kings 17:1).
And there was no rain on the land for many months!
Our God is sovereign even over the weather! Come back tomorrow and see what else He can do.