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Job

CHAPTER 39
1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

With question after question, God continues to show Job how little knowledge he has. The wild goats and hinds (deer) give birth at an appointed time, and require no help other than God's divine providence. Their young grow up healthy and have plenty of food provided for them.

Are we not the same? Who indeed has provided all for us? Is it not God?

The "wild ass" was given his freedom by the Lord (verse 5). It is said in Jeremiah 2:24 that mankind is like the wild ass. He goes about life seeking his own pleasure because he is given freedom from the Lord.

Free will is precious. It is a divine gift to mankind.

Like the unicorn (verse 9), man is a proud creature. He is given the innate ability to serve God, but uses his free will to refuse that servitude.

Here Job is challenged to ORDER the unicorn into service. This relates to the freedom of man given by our Lord, and how man cannot be "tamed" nor brought into service except he surrender his free will.

13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; 17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

God has decorated the entire universe with great beauty. The peacock is a beautiful bird.

Does it seem odd that an ostrich is a bird having feathers and wings, yet unable to fly? The ostrich also seems devoid of wisdom in that she lays her eggs and leaves them. It seems she isn't concerned that their birth may be hazardous.

Is not mankind much the same? Man is created by the Almighty to exist for eternity; but so few parents care enough to teach their children about this extremely important thing.

The "horse and rider" can quite easily defeat even the strongest ostrich, yet the ostrich "scorns" them and hisses and charges against them. This is much the same as man does against God.

19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

And speaking of horses, look how STRONG they are created. Not only are they physically strong, but they are mentally strong. When wild, the horse is proud and "paws" against an enemy. When tamed, the horse is quite willing to go into battle without fear. The "smell" (verse 25) of battle seems to give him even more courage.

Man is also able to meet in battle with great courage. Where did he get such strength? Only by divine providence.

26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

The ability to soar with the wind is given to the hawk and eagle. Also they have tremendous eyesight, and are quite able to see the prey for a long distance.

These abilities were given to the animal kingdom. What greater abilities are given to mankind!? And from where do they originate? The obvious answer is GOD ALONE!

CHAPTER 40

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

The matchless wisdom of God has been presented, and now God questions Job. Shall this man "instruct" God; could he even pretend to "contend" with God?

Again, may I say, when we question God concerning the difficulties we face in life, we are casting doubt upon His Divine character.

The animal kingdom has difficulty in giving birth, and obtaining food, and their lives are continually hazardoud. But they don't question God because of it.

Is man wise enough to "reprove" God for the difficulties of life?

3 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's sin is exposed, and he realizes conviction. Notice that Job's conviction did NOT come by the four "friends," but by God alone.

Job is ashamed to open his mouth to God and offer those questions that he had proposed before.

6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. 14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

The same voice of God comes again, and from the same whirlwind. Again God challenges Job to be what he has claimed to be -- able to contend with Almighty God.

My friends, there are many today who say there is no God. There are many today who say that if God exists, He cannot be very wise because of the inequities of life. But here what God says to them.

He is the ALMIGHTY (verse 9), and is arrayed in the splendor of His creation (verse 10). His judgment is completely and totally righteous (verse 8), and beyond reproach.

And it is God alone Who will call a "final judgment day" in which He shall "cast abroad" His wrath against sinful man (verse 8). He shall break the pride of man in that day.

We are sinners all, unrighteous and filthy before the perfect and pure Creator. How shall we save ourselves from the wrath of He Who creates and destroys simply by His "WORD?" Or what gift might we give to Him which would satisfy our wrongdoing toward His goodness and kindness?

15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. 16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. 19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. 20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. 21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. 22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. 23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. 24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

Much conjecture has been offered about this word "behemoth." Some say it was a monster that has ceased to exist. There is evidence that dinosaurs lived after the flood. Perhaps this was a dinosaur. Or perhaps it was simply a crocodile or hippopotamus.

An angry crocodile can crush small trees with his tail and crush a man with his teeth. An angry hippopotamus can snap a canoe in half with one bite.

But these are simply displays of POWER. God has GIVEN the power and God can CONTROL the power. All the power man has comes from God, and can be controlled by Him!!

And yet, there is one more example of strength and power in the animal kingdom.

CHAPTER 41

1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? 2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? 3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? 4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? 5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? 6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? 7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed iron? or his head with fish spears? 8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. 9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? 11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. 12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion. 13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? 14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. 15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. 16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. 18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. 20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. 21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. 22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. 23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. 24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. 25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. 26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. 27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. 28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. 29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. 30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. 31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. 33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Leviathan is said to be "king over all the children of pride" (verse 34). Again, this might have been some sort of dinosaur that existed in those days.

His strength was mighty. With scales so close together and so tough that even iron arrows wouldn't pierce it.

But God makes a point in verses 9-11. This monster is untamable by man, but God can control him. Man did not even attempt to control this animal. God Himself had given this animal strength. Therefore, who is man to contend with God?

Tomorrow we shall look at the last chapter of Job. We shall see God's grace and kindness displayed after the realization of His power has been told.

Again, let me say that God did NOT explain Himself and his treatment of Job. He simply shows Job the futility of arguing with perfect righteousness.

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