Job 38:4-8, 22-29; 42:1-3
No person has lived without wondering how all that is created came into existence. Job\’s description may seem simplistic to the sophisticated. It is a statement of fact and of faith. The Christian knows that it is an inspired and accurate record of actuality. Even those who are Christians will at times tamper with the sacred truth of God\’s creation.
Job is considered to be the oldest book of the Old Testament. It is interesting, therefore, to notice his apologetic for the creation of the earth and all other creation by God. In a poetic manner the author chides the reader reminding him that God has been here much longer that the oldest of creation and is actually the author of all that \”lives, or moves, or has its being.\” He says, \”Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?\” The word for foundation is musada. Its primary meaning is \”to found or to fix firmly\” and it came to mean foundation. At times it is translated \”to establish.\” It means in a metaphorical sense, \”that which cannot be moved.\”
In addition the question is asked, \”Who hath laid the measures thereof if thou knowest?\” The Hebrew word for measure is madad. It occurs fifty-three times and refers to measuring lengths or distances. Does God have a big tape measure by which he measures the size of the earth, stars and planets? No. The word is used in a symbolic manner to refer to the careful and correct design of God\’s creation. God measures the oceans of the earth (Isa 40:12), the multitudes of future Israelites (Hos 1:10), the stars of heaven (Jer 33:22; 31:27), the territories of the earth for His chosen people (Psa 60:6), and the people that He will judge (Hab 3:6). Thus this term turns from the picture of a measuring rod or rule to that of a calculator but all the while refers to His exact knowledge of His creation and His supervision of the same.