MSEP06: Stop Commanding the Morning! It Is Not Biblical

Commanding the morning is an extra-biblical doctrine that resulted from failure to study the Scripture. If you have ever been exposed to this doctrine in any way, then this study is for you.

In This Article

• Introduction
• The Wrong Interpretation
• The Correct Interpretation
• The Message is Clear to Many
• A Better Way

Introduction

This is the sixth Episode (MSEP06) of Misapplied! Series on Grace Tidings. The series is meant for eye-opening and fun Bible study. In this Episode, I will be addressing a strange topic which many may be hearing for the first time today. But those who are familiar with the teaching, especially the teachers of it, know exactly what I’m talking about.

Before I say anything, I want to make it clear that this study is not meant to attack anyone. Before you draw any conclusion, I invite you to carefully read the full article. Until then, please reserve your comments. But if after reading the full article, you still consider it an attack, then I leave it between you and God.

Commanding the Morning

Have you ever heard of commanding the morning? It is a teaching that supposedly came from Job 38:12-13. I will credit the general overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr. D.K. Olukoya, for this teaching for the simple fact that he is the one whom I know came up with it. I heard it from him first, and no one else I know preaches it, apart from his subordinates. But it is a false teaching that resulted from disregarding the context of the text in order to make a fancy point.

Here is the text we are studying today from the Book of Job:

Job 38:12-13 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Although the above text contains only two verses, I will be taking you on a brief journey through the Book of Job. This is to make the point of the Book plain. So grab your Bible and let the fun study begin. But first, let’s take a look at the false teachings based on the above text.

The Wrong Interpretation of Commanding the Morning

Just to provide a brief background to the text, Job was suffering from something that he did not cause. God allows bad thing to happen to a good person.

But while disregarding the context of the entire Book of Job, some preachers say that God is asking Job (in Job 38:12-13) why he did not command the morning rather than complaining about his problems.

According to them, Job should have commanded the day and decided how he wanted it to turn out… Before anyone wakes up in morning to program evil to the day, Job should have programmed the day to favor him and shake off his enemies from it. This, according to those preachers, is the message that God is passing across to Job. Do you see this in the context? Because I don’t!

If you don’t believe me concerning the above teaching, just look up Command the Morning, a message preached some years ago by Dr. Olukoya (who also wrote a book on it). This is still being propagated till today by many of the Pastors who like to copy him.

The False Foundation of Commanding the Morning

Building on the above foundation of wrong interpretation, the preachers of this message now add some traditional ways of making certain pronouncements early in the morning to command the day. Similar to what the African witch doctors do when they rise early to issue incantations into the air.

I guess they came up with commanding the morning to complete with the witch doctors. They even crafted the so-called prayer-points to command the morning. How can those who claim to hear from God make such blunders?

Many rituals have been invented based on this doctrine. Something that the Bible never teaches. This is what happens to you when you try to mix occult traditions with Christianity. And many have blindly believed it and are actually trying to command the morning.

I heard and believed this for many years until I read the Book of Job. Then I found out that I’ve been deceived, and that God never asked Job, or anyone for that matter, to command the morning. Just keeping reading, and you will see for yourself.

Instead of commanding the morning, there are better ways by which the believers can begin their days. I have provided some helpful biblical tips at the end of this article. But first, let’s look at the correct interpretation of the passage.

The Correct Interpretation of Commanding the Morning

The proper approach to Bible study is to first carefully read the text without any preconceived notions, or bringing traditions into the text. This careful reading lets you know what the Bible says. But this is only the beginning. 

After reading, the next thing is to interpret the text in its context. This helps us to know what the Bible means by what it says. It is then and only then that we can make the correct application of the text.

But those who cannot wait to make the Bible say what they want it to say, they don’t have the time to do any of the above. They just rip the text out of its context. But I won’t do that here today, which is why I will carefully take you through the text in order to present the right message. Not my thoughts or opinions, but the plain message from the text.

The Breakdown of Job 38

According to the Book, Outlines of the Books of the Bible, the Chapter can be broken down as follows:

Job 38:

• Verses 1-3. God challenges Job to answer.
• Verses 4-30. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance,
• Verses 31-41. and of imbecility.

Matthew Henry has his breakdown as follows:

• God calls upon Job to answer. (Job 38:1-3)
• God questions Job. (Job 38:4-11)
• Concerning the light and darkness. (Job 38:12-24)
• Concerning other mighty works. (Job 38:25-41)

About Job Himself

A quick glance at the Book of Job tells us about the man himself. He is presented at the beginning of the Book as a man that is “perfect and upright.” He is highly blessed and wealthy:

Job 1:1-3 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Then came the tragedy (in Job 1:13-19), which was due to no fault of his own (see Job 1:6-12). God was testing Job and allowed the devil to touch him. But Job was unaware of the reason for his predicament. He did not know that he was being tested. Confused by the whole situation, Job was asking questions, like many of us would if we found ourselves in his shoes.

Job’s initial response wasn’t bad at all. Here is what he said when the news of his tragedy first broke:

Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

About Job’s Neighbors

The man’s wife first showed up, listen to her:

“…Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” – Job 2:9.

To which Job responded:

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

And then it was his friends’ turn: Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job’s friends made comments on matters which they did not understand. They assumed that Jobs’ tragedy must have resulted from his iniquity, otherwise there was no other reason for any man to experience what Job was going through.

But they were wrong in their assumptions. This is confirmed by how God responded to them in Job 42:7-9.

Job’s Confusion

If you compare the introduction of this man at the beginning of this Book to what he was going through, his confusion is somehow expected. At least, from human perspective, and based on the expectations in the time in which he lived. He tried to do the right things, yet everything is falling apart in his life.

While he was wondering, he said things like:

Job 10:15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

Job 13:23-24 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?

Many of Job’s sayings are his response to his friends. See for instance, Job 21:7-15, and the passage below:

Job 31:3-6 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

The conversation continued, and then God responded to Job and his friends.

God’s Response to Job Job 38:2-41:34

In responding to Job’s attempt to question His judgment with the predicament, God decided to ask Job series of questions. As you will see in the context, the purpose of these questions is for Job to see that in comparison to God, he is nothing. This is how God approached Job:

Job 38:1-3 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Then the questions begin in verse 4 of Chapter 38.

The Questions

There are over 80 questions asked by God in the two cycles of Job 38:1-40:2 and Job 40:6-41:34. So this is not just about Job 38:12-13, or only about commanding the morning.

These questions are ALL about what job CANNOT CREATE or DO, and not about what he should have done.

The first set of questions focused on the non-living creatures such as:

1. the earth (Job 38:4–7),
2. sea (Job 38:8–11),
3. the dawn (dayspring) (Job 38:12–15),
4. unseen wonders (Job 38:16–21),
5. the weather phenomena (Job 38:22–30), and
6. heavenly bodies (Job 38:31–38).

After these, we see the wonders of the animal world such as:

1. the lion (Job 38:39, 40),
2. the raven (Job 38:41-39:4),
3. the wild donkey (Job 39:5–8),
4. the unicorn, or better, the wild ox (Job 39:9–12),
5. the peacock (the stork), and the ostrich (Job 39:13–18),
6. the horse (Job 39:19–25), the hawk (Job 39:26), and
7. the eagle (Job 39:27–30).

Here are some of the questions that God asks Job:

Job 38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

Job 38:12-13 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Job 38:22-23 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Job 38:39-40 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Job 39:13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

I can go on and on, but did you get the point now? Just look at Job Chapters 38 and 39.

The point of these questioning is that God wants Job to know that He [God] is the omnipotent, omniscient, and sovereign God, who does not owe anyone any explanation. He can do whatever He wants whenever and however He wants it without being questioned.

Job is not unrighteous or unwise per se. He is only confused, just like anyone of us would be if we were in a similar situation. But Job tries to justify himself which then makes God an unrighteous Judge. So in a way, Job attempts to question God. This is what God is responding to in Chapters 38-42.

A Closer Look at Job 38:12-13

Job 38:12-13 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

Why do some people have special interest in the verse 12 to the extent of taking it out of context? The answer has a lot to do with traditions, in this case, African occult traditions, and preconceived notions. If you pay attention to the command the morning doctrine, you will see how the traditions are woven into it.

The preachers even provide certain words that they want the people to alter to the day, the sun, the moon, and the stars. All these in an effort to control what happens during the day. This is an extra-biblical practice that disregards the proper interpretation of Scriptures, the power of the gospel, and the victory which the believers have in Christ.

The statement “command the morning” in the passage means to literally speak the day into existence. These are rhetorical questions to which the answer is obviously a resounding NO! Because these are things that are impossible for Job or any man to do.

As you can see for yourself, Job 38:12 does not suggest that Job can or should command the morning rather than complaining. The context of the passage is in fact God telling Job he cannot do it!

It is God’s way of reminding him (Job) of the finite nature of his strength and wisdom, especially when compared to that of God. See again in (Job Chapters 38-41, 42:1-6).

Similar Points to “Command the Morning” in the Bible

The message that God is passing to Job here is not unique to this one Book in the Bible. Here are some other ones:

Proverbs 30:2-4 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Isaiah 40:12-18   Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?… 18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Romans 11:33-36 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Our God is truly amazing! Aren’t you glad you know and belong to Him?

The Message is Clear to Many

While some in our days miss this clear message in Job 38, there are a host of Bible believers and theologians who get the message. In fact many are baffled by this false interpretation of Job 38:12-13. They wonder how the people got that from the text.

What about you reading now? Do you think God tells Job he should have commanded the morning rather than complaining?

Below are comments from those who actually took the time to read and understand the Scripture. These people, among many others, got the message:

Charles Spurgeon

Here is Charles Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington on January 13th, 1878:

THE outward features of a day none can change. The kings of the earth cannot command for themselves bright days nor inflict upon their enemies days of tempest. It belongs to a higher than they to command the morning and cause the day-star to know his place. It is little they can do in reference to the light and the sun, and the clouds, and the rain; they cannot bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades nor loose the bands of Orion.

Spurgeon got the message.

John Gill

This is from John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days;… Job had lived to see many a morning, but it never was in his power to command one; he had been in such circumstances as to wish for morning light before it was, but was obliged to wait for it, could not hasten it, or cause it to spring before its time.

John Gill got the message.

Benajah Harvey Carroll

B. H. Carroll, in An Interpretation of the English Bible writes:

It is foolish presumption for a blind dependent creature to challenge the infinite in the realm of providence. The government of the universe, physical, and moral, is one; to question any point is to assume understanding of all. Job, behold some of the lower realms of the divine government and realize the absurdity of your complaint.

B.H. Carroll got the message.

Matthew Henry

In Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary, he writes:

The Lord here proceeds to ask Job many puzzling questions, to convince him of his ignorance, and so to shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we will but try ourselves with such interrogatories as these, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not.

Matthew Henry got the message.

Did you get the message yet?

You know who else got the message? Job himself, the man to whom God was speaking, he got the message! How did I know that you ask? By his own response. Keep reading…

Job Got the Message

In Chapter 40, Job responds with a humble submission to the unquestionable God. Listen to what he says:

Job 40:3-5 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Job 42:2-3 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

He got the message. He stopped complaining and let God be God. Of course we all know the end of the story for Job. God put an end to his sufferings and he was fully restored. He restored everything that Job lost in many folds. But not because he “commanded the morning,” or “caused the dayspring to know his place.” He simply humbled himself before God.

 Job 42:10-17 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before…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…

Beware of the Deceivers

Many preachers have refused to tell the truth. They are very good in presenting their extra-biblical ideas and fancy points as sermons. They do this by connecting the ideas to some Bible verses taken out of context. The result of such acts are the popular teachings such as commanding the morning.

At times, this could be very subtle and hard to detect. But in many occasions, only a quick look at the text will reveal the misapplication, like I just did here with Job 38:12-13.

Verify What You Hear

The problem with many preachers is the foundation of their so-called ministries. They gather knowledge from several extra-biblical sources, including the traditions of men and the occult world. They call it ‘deep deep mysteries’. Be careful when someone starts telling you about some deep mysteries that are not found in the Bible. They are about to spill some lies!

Don’t believe anything you hear until you have verified it in the Scriptures, and don’t be impressed by attractive speeches or presentations. They may be cool and fancy, but they are powerless because they not based on the truth. That is is not the way God wants the Christians to operate. Christians should grow daily in grace and in the knowledge of God.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

If you have been commanding the morning, then you need to read the entire Book of Job, I guarantee you will get the message too. God asks neither Job nor anyone for that matter to command the morning!

A Better Way

There is a better way to live as believers than to be commanding the morning or rising early to issue incantations to the air.

Humble and Submit Yourself to God

Learn from Job’s submission to God. The Bible says when a man’s way pleases the Lord, He will make even his enemies to be at peace with Him (Proverbs 16:7).  It also tells us in James 4:7 that the devil will flee from you if you simply submit yourself to God and resist the devil. Not to bind or curse him, just resist him.

By the way, resisting the devil means to NOT believe his lies, which means you need to know the truth.

So seek to live to honor and glorify God, resist all ungodliness. This is the secret of a joyful and victorious Christian life. The believers are already victorious in Christ, we just need to learn how to live in that victory. Do not allow anyone to replace that victory with a battle for you!

Believers Beware

Again, God never asked Job to command the morning in Job 38:12. Read the passage again, in context, you too will get the message. So instead of attempting to command the morning, simply commit your ways into the hands of the Lord, and let Him take care of you.

Every day is blessing from God. As a child of God, loved by God, when you rise in the morning, first of all, be thankful for life and the gift of the new day. Then commit your day into the hands of God, and He will see you through.

He and only He has the power to command the day, the morning, the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the other elements.

If you happen to be the child of such a powerful God, how much do you think you should worry about the day, or about anything for that matter?

Stand firm in the liberty that Christ has won for you, and be not entangled again into any occult tradition.

Thank you for reading.