Job 40-42

Job 40-42

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

                I think we learn a lot about the importance of mankind and the relationship we have with the Almighty (God). We learn that God is all powerful and that we should not contend with him. Even when times are tough, the Lord will bless us greatly. In the case of Job he blessed him with double of what he had, as reward for being good and prevailing through the tough trials. We must also endure through the tough trials, so that we can come out ahead and the Lord will bless us for it.

Chapter 40: The Arm of God

                God asks Job; “Shall he that condendeth with the Almighty instruct him? (Job 20:2). Job needed not to contend with God and try to instruct him, God will instruct Job.

                Job responds; “…I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth” (Job 40:4)

                Job knew his place and knew that he must not contend with God.  Job only changed his tone from blaming God to humbling himself before him, but not because circumstances had changed. Job was still in misery and had lost virtually everything. The tone changed because while he once felt that God had forsaken him, now he felt and knew that God was with Him. 

 “Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee…” (Job 40:15)

God gave Job a remarkable survey of the wonders of creation in Job 38-39, including a look at many remarkable animals and their ways. Now lastly, God gives Job a look at two remarkable creatures: Behemoth (Job 40:15-24) and Leviathan (Job 41).

**We don’t know much about behemoth, except that some identities range from dinosaur to crocodile to a mythological creature. Most think God had in mind what we would call the hippopotamus, one of the largest, strongest, and most dangerous land creatures in the world.

Nevertheless and extremely powerful animal.**

“…his strength in in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly” (Job 40:16)

God is essentially telling Job that if he can’t full understand or contend with a creature that God has created, then how will he contend with God (the Maker) Himself?

 Chapter 41: All Things are God (The Body of God)

After the discussion of Behemoth in Job 40:15-24, God now called Job to consider another fearful monster, Leviathan (sea monster or what some scholars believe to be a very large whale). This creature was first mentioned in Job 3:8; in that verse, Job considered how sailors and fishermen would curse the threatening Leviathan, and with the same passion he cursed the day of his birth.

                Leviathan is mentioned several places in the scriptures;

Psalm 74:12-14 refers to Leviathan as a sea serpent, and that God broke the head of the Leviathan long ago, perhaps at the creation.

Psalm 104:26 also refers to Leviathan as a sea creature.

Isaiah 27:1 speaks of the future defeat of Leviathan, also associating it with a twisted serpent that lives in the sea.

Isaiah 51:9 and Psalm 89-8-10 also speak of a serpent associated with the sea that God defeated as a demonstration of His great strength, and identifies this serpent with the name Rahab, meaning proud one.

Job 26:12-13 also refers to God’s piercing defeat of a fleeing serpent associated with the sea.

                God’s point with this description of Leviathan is to show Job just how powerless he is against this creature. If Job can not defeat this monster, how can he contend and defeat God?

                From verses 12-34 God descrbes Leviathan.

                The most prominent features mentioned;

                “…his teeth are terrible…” (Job 41:14)

                “…his neesings (sneezings) a light doth shine…” (Jib 41:18)

                “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.” (Job 41:19)

                “Out of his nostirls goeth smokes…” (Job 41:20)

                “His breath kindeleth coals…” (Job 41:21)

                “…his neck remaineth strength…” (Job 41:22)

                “His heart is as firm as stone…” (Job 41:24) 

If mankind can’t overpower Leviathan, it can’t hope to overpower God.

Chapter 42: Job Sees God

                Job answers the Lord; “I know that… no thought can be witholden from thee” (Job 42:2)

                He continues to say; “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (Job 42:5)

                Job here, SEES God! He commands his friends to repent and make their standings with the Lord right, through sacrifices.

                The Lord then “…gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

                Job is reunited with his family; his brothers and sisters and then ate bread with him in his house.

                The Lord “…blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning…” (Job 42:12)

                Job lived 140 years and saw four generations of his posterity.