unrighteous, we should be very careful that our standard is not self originated. In many

instances when the Scripture brings us up against some problem, we are definitely faced

with a fact that silences much argument, viz., GOD IS CREATOR. A well known

instance is that reply of Paul given in Rom. 9: 20. Who among us has not had searchings

of heart before the revelation of the purpose of election. Who has not felt at one time or

another a questioning spirit that would, if allowed to go on, arraign the great God before

the bar of our understanding? Or, when attempting to meet the objections put forth by

others, how many times have we elaborated the argument concerning the sovereign grace

of God? The Apostle embarks upon no long reasoned explanation. The questioner is

taken immediately into the presence of the Creator, "Nay but, O man, who art thou that

disputest with God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, Why hast Thou

made me thus?" Another typical example is found in the case of Job. Stoutly and

persistently Job argues his case against the three friends. Job had "justified himself rather

than God", and Elihu proceeds to reprove him. Job had complained that God had

unjustly sought occasion to afflict him (33: 8-11). What is Elihu's answer to this?

"Behold, in this thou art not just. I will answer, not God is more righteous than man, but

greater, and that He giveth not an account of any of His matters. Elihu returns to this

statement again in 35: 5, and again in 36: 26. Then from the storm Jehovah spake

to Job, and again there is the direct appeal to the stupendous work of creation. Job is

overwhelmed with the appalling greatness of the One against whom he had dared to

murmur. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" "Hast thou

searched the secrets of the deep?" "Where is the way where light dwelleth?" "Canst

thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades?" "Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom" Job is

brought low by this first utterance of the Lord, saying, "Behold, I am vile" (40: 4). Again

the Lord addresses Job, and again there is an overpowering exhibition of the strength of

the Creator.  The Lord draws Job's attention to the Behemoth (probably the

hippopotamus) and to Leviathan (probably the crocodile). There is no reference to God's

righteousness in the passage, but simply the impotence of any to stand against Him. Of

the crocodile God can say, "None is so fierce that dare stir him up", and follows that

remark by saying, "who then is able to stand before Me?" Again the Lord continues His

description, and again, without one word of teaching concerning the question of whether

God can rightly do this or do that with His creatures (the case in point), Job utterly

breaks down. Job answers (we quote from the beautiful metrical version of the late

Dr. Bullinger):--