The Outer Fringe

(Job 26:14) And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?

The Old Testament book of Job is often misunderstood. It is sometimes avoided because of the depth of its meaning and because it tells the story of great suffering. But, along with the pain and suffering is a wonderful accounting of the goodness and majesty of God.

In this particular passage of Scripture, Job spends a considerable amount of time detailing the majesty of God.

How you have helped him who has no power!
How you have saved the arm that has no strength!
How you have counseled him who has no wisdom,
and plentifully declared sound knowledge!

By his power he stilled the sea;

By his wind the heavens were made fair;

After writing all of these wonderful things about God, it dawns on Job that all these things are just a small representation of the works of God’s hand. Just the outer fringe…

In the New Testament, we have another account of someone who encountered the outer fringe of divine power.

(Luke 8:43-44) And there was a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

(Luke 8:48) And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

The outer fringe…

Job also described the power in the faint whisper of His voice. God doesn’t have to yell or scream to get a response. Just a word; a faint whisper is all it takes. Mark wrote about the peace speaker, who with just a simple command calmed the boisterous winds and waves of the sea.

Job was also aware of those times when God’s response was like the rolling thunder. The dictionary describes thunder as a response to a flash of lightning which is supercharged by unstable atmospheric conditions. Sometimes the atmosphere that surrounds us can become imbalanced and unstable. God is perfectly able to respond appropriately during those times.

We often think we need something “big and boisterous” from God. We want Him to move in a spectacular way. But just one touch, one word, one whisper, is more than enough when it comes from the hand of the Lord. And when the mountains are moved and the crooked paths made straight; when we stand in total amazement at the power of God, it’s still just the fringe of His works…

PRAYER: Father, Your influence is HUGE! Thank you for the many different ways that Your power can be experienced. Big and small; loud and soft. Whatever is appropriate for the occasion. You know what it takes. I will rest in the knowledge that just the fringe of Your works is more than enough for me. Amen.