Job 39:1
God continues speaking, and God says in Job
39:1-4, 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. God
keeps with His theme of how little man knows, and in the next verses God uses
illustrations from the animal kingdom to demonstrate that fact. God starts with
animals in the wild that are giving birth. God knows all about those
pregnancies. God knows when every animal that is pregnant is going to give
birth. Man does not know. This shows that God is very interested in conception,
and pregnancy, and the giving of birth. God is all involved in new life. God is
there watching and controlling the system that He created. God is involved in
every detail of it. Man is not. As a matter of fact many human beings are
involved in stopping pregnancies among their fellow humans. How little man
knows, and how little man understands life or the giver of life: God.
God says in Job 39:5-8, 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. God tells man that God knows the wild animals.
God sees the freedom that they have, and the life that they live. Of course,
God more than sees their freedom. God gave them their freedom. God has given
freedom to man also. Evidently God loves to see freedom being exercised on the
earth by the creatures to whom He has given freedom. You have freedom. You have
freedom to choose to believe in Jesus or not to believe. You have freedom to
serve God or not to serve.
God says in Job 39:9-30, 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?[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.[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.[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 word that is translated unicorn in verses 9
and 10 actually means a wild animal. God is saying that there is a lot that
man does not know about the animals. There are some wild beasts that man does
know how to domesticate. And then God lists some other magnificent animals that
man has no power over. Man did not give them their strength or their beauty.
Man did not design them. The animals listed are the peacock, the ostrich, the
horse, and the eagle.
The Bible says in Job 40:1-2, 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. No one can instruct
God, and no one can reprove God. That should be obvious, but there are those
who are so wise in their own conceits that they attempt that very thing. They
will be not doing that at the judgment when they are in front of the
All-powerful being and have nowhere to hide.
The Bible says in 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. No one can stand before God
in the strength of their own character. Without a Savior we are doomed. Job
realized this. Job said, I am vile.
Everyone should understand how sinful they are compared to God. All human
beings are exceedingly sinful and evil. That is why we need a Savior. Once you
believe on Jesus, then He becomes your righteousness.
The Bible says in Job 40:6-10, 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. Verse six says that God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind. This is not the first time
that we are told this. It shows that God is able to get our attention so that
we will listen to Him. One of the things that God is doing in this world is
working in every persons life so that they will come to a point in life where
God will get their attention too. In verse seven God tells Job to be a man. A
real man serves God, looks to God, and trusts in God. A real man admits his
mistakes, and recognizes his need for divine intervention. A real man turns to
Christ and accepts Jesus as Savior.
In verse eight God asks Job, wilt thou condemn me? Unfortunately, there are
many people who condemn God. That is what atheists are all about. Sometimes
when a terrible disaster takes place in the world, some people condemn God with
foolish accusations asking, How can God allow such a thing? But God has given
free will to man, and evil exists, and evil does its evil deeds. The judgement
is coming, and God will render justice for evil deeds. And those who accuse God
will be shown how foolish they were and how little they knew about God.
In verses 9 and 10 God is telling Job how weak we
are compared to God, and how little glory we have compared to His glory. The
glory of God in heaven must be magnificent. It is undoubtedly the greatest
light show and music show ever to be seen. Millions of angels will be singing.
Millions of believers will be rejoicing in the Savior. There will be thunders
and lightnings and unbelievable lights flashing. Probably there will be
creatures never before seen by man flying and praising God. There will be
golden objects and precious stones and beauty never before experienced. The
voice of God will speak in all of its power and majesty and love. The
all-powerful Being will be the center of it all. What is a mere man to such an
astounding spectacle at the throne of God?
God is speaking to Job and God says in Job
40:11-14, 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. God mentions those that are proud in verses 11
and 12. And God tells Job to Look on every one
that is proud. Notice the people who are proud. Life is strange. People
have nothing to be proud about. They are weak and sinful, and they know so
little. And yet they are proud. Their pride keeps them from God, and insures
that they are headed for a terrible eternal destiny. There is one chance for
the proud in heart: that they be brought low. If they are brought low enough,
they just might look up. That is why God says in verse 12, bring him low. God certainly is able to bring
people to a low estate. That is one of the things that God will be doing to the
whole earth during the time of the Great Tribulation. After the rapture when
Jesus takes all true believers off the earth and takes them to heaven, the time
of the Great Tribulation will fall upon the earth for seven years when the
antichrist takes control. Jesus said about this time in Matthew 24:21-22, For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.[22]
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but
for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. If the ungodly do
not repent and turn to Jesus, they will be tread
down. In verse 14 God speaks of the need to be saved. If you are one of
the few who understands your need, then you will turn to Jesus and be saved.
God continues speaking to Job and God says in Job
40:15-24, 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. No one knows for
certain what animal is the behemoth. It is very possibly an elephant. It is
an herbivore, and very great in size in strength. The second part of verse 23
and verse 24 might be referring to the ability of an elephant to draw up a
great deal of water into its trunk: he can draw up
Jordan into his mouth.[24] He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth
through snares. Whatever animal it is, Gods point once again is that
God made this animal, and man knows so little about it all. God designed this
animal. God gave life to this animal. Man has so little ability compared to
God.
God continues speaking to Job and God says in Job
41:1-34, 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. In the previous
passage God mentioned an animal called behemoth that lived on land. Leviathan
was an animal that lived in the water. It is so huge that God tells Job in
verse 1 that Job would not be able to catch it: Canst
thou draw out leviathan with an hook? Based upon the animals we know
today, perhaps this is a whale or perhaps a crocodile. It is a very large
animal because when it moves in the water, it says in verse 31, He maketh the deep to boil like a pot. Verses 19,
20, and 21 sound very similar to what we would call a fire-breathing animal: 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. But either this animal no longer exists or these verses were
spoken as an allegory to emphasize how much human beings were afraid of it. The
point of this whole passage is to demonstrate to Job that there are many things
in the creation that man knows very little about. Man knows very little about
God. Man knows very little about himself. Man knows very little about life. Man
knows very little about science. Man knows very little about the universe. Be humble,
and learn from Christ.
___________________________________________________
Copyright; 2018 by Charles F. (Rick) Creech
All Rights Reserved