Job 38 -41

God Answers Job

Note: For consistency I have included all of the answer from God in today's reading and will have chapter 42 for tomorrow's portion.

God finally answers Job in chapter 38 to 41.  He answers him from a whirlwind (38:1 and 40:6) as a sign of His presence and power. His answer begins with a challenge (38:3 and 40:7) to Job to stand up like a man and be prepared to answer the questions God will ask.  This implies that the questions are not merely rhetorical but will cause Job to look deep inside himself and prepare to respond to God Almighty.

The Lord asks Job cosmic questions, then meteorological questions, and questions about animal life?

For the cosmic questions, the Lord takes Job on a journey through creation which parallels, in imagery, the Genesis creation story in chapters 1 and 2.  He asks Job "where were you" when all of the universe was being designed?  When the souls of men were created? When the universe was being formed and the waters of heaven separated?  Where was Job when the stars were hung in place and the Sun provide light to the Earth?  Where were you, Job, when the seas were separated and the fresh water sprang forth.  Were you there when the gates of death and gloom were set in place?

Next he asks Job about the weather - snow, hail, rain, ice, clouds, dew, frost, lightning, and the earth. He then lists the animal life starting with the lion and the deer - the fierce killer of the savannah and the regal herbivore of the forest.  Next he asks job about the donkey  and the ox-beasts of work and burden.  He inquires of Job his knowledge of the ostrich - the swiftest land-bound bird and the horse - the animal of battle, the animal that serves mankind in many capacities.  Finally he discusses the eagle - the heavenly bird of prey.

For Job these questions are to challenge his thinking - to make him realize his knowledge is nothing compared to God's.  Job is stunned and humbled to the point of not speaking (40:4) and realizes that he could never provide an adequate answer to God's questions.  The Lord asks these question not to penalize Job, but to abase him into genuine humility.

Chapters 40 and 41 discuss animals, the Behemoth and the Leviathan, that are mythological in their descriptions when compared to modern beasts.  The Behemoth could be descriptive of an elephant or hippopotamus, but the description stretches our modern perception of either of these beast. The Leviathan may be alligator, but this is a real stretch since alligators do not breathe fire!  I believe they are symbolic or metaphorical for the collective power of God in nature.  Beasts in the Bible are almost always representative of spiritual power and these are probably not an exception to this.

The point is that God's power is beyond the carnal understanding and imagination of man.  Man is not in a position to challenge God or to question his will for our lives.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.