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To: Virginia-American
[Biblical shape of the Earth]
Job 26:7
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing

this is Job speaking. in Ch. 38:4-6, the Lord responds, and says

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

IE Job says the Earth hangs upon nothing, and the Lord corrects him and says it has a foundation and a corner stone.




Taking verses out of context is why you are confused. Job and the Lord are having a conversation and are NOT talking about the "shape of the earth"!

Nothing Job has said is wrong. That remained the same. The Lord is speaking in a metaphor. When a building is created they lay a foundation and a cornerstone and this is what the Lord is referring to - when He created the world. He's asking Job WHERE were YOU when I created the earth? What makes YOU think I need to ANSWER TO YOU.

Job made the statement

Job 26:7
He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing

in the 26 chapter of the book of Job.

Between that and chapter 38 allot has happened to Job.

Job is looking for answers to all the hardships he has endured. He is asking the Lord questions:

Job 38:4-7

[4] Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
[5] Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
[6] Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
[7] When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

etc.

You see the Lord doesn't answer to Job. That's why He is asking Job these questions. It's like saying hey Job, who do YOU think YOU are? Where YOU there when I did this etc.? The Lord is putting Job is his place.

Later Job is blessed for keeping his faith.

Job 42:12 & 13

[12] So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

[13] He had also seven sons and three daughters.

You see the whole time Job was being tested. We know it since it is stated in the beginning. The Lord allowed Satan to do these terrible things to Job, KNOWING that Job would be true to Him.

Job 1:8-12 and read on

[8] And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

[9] Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

[10] Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

[11] But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

[12] And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Read on!

The cornerstone metaphor is used elsewhere.

Here's another example that may help clarify this for you:

Eph.2:20

[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

It is CHRIST that is the corner stone of the body of believers.
762 posted on 02/20/2006 8:22:22 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people believe in Intelligent Design (God))
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To: nmh

And many stumble over it!


893 posted on 02/21/2006 5:56:31 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)
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To: nmh
The cornerstone metaphor is used elsewhere.

Interesting. For someone who is so unwilling to see the obvious metaphors in the Creation, Fall of Man and Great Flood in Genesis 1-11 (in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary), you seem quite liberal in the application of metaphorical interpretation to other parts of the Bible. Very interesting indeed (though not atypical).

932 posted on 02/21/2006 6:47:10 AM PST by Quark2005 (Divination is NOT science.)
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