In this chapter God continues humbling Job by describing the most frightening, horrific, and powerful creature of Job’s time: Leviathan.
” ‘Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle? His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves. On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride.’ ” (v1-2,12-13,15,18-19,25,33-34)
This large sea creature was powerful, fast, menacing, and unmatched among all other creatures. It was deadly, and struck fear into the bravest of men. No person could defeat such a creature, it was beyond their power to do so. Yet, God created it, and could control it as He saw fit. If God is more powerful than the most powerful creature on earth, then He is truly beyond compare.
Now, I don’t want to start a large debate over what type of creature this was, but it definitely wasn’t a crocodile like most commentaries would claim (just as behemoth in Job 40 is definitely not a hippopotamus). What I will get into, is the fact God does not lie, and He does not need to exaggerate, so based on the context we can assume Leviathan and Behemoth were real creatures in Job’s time, and were likely some sort of dinosaurs (possibly a brontosaurus and pliosaurus). Nowhere in the Bible does God describe a mythical creature that does not exist, and we have fossil evidence of creatures that fit these descriptions, so it’s not hard to believe that God is being truthful here in His description of these mighty creatures.
I’m also not trying to start a huge debate over “But didn’t dinosaurs die off millions of years before human life? How could they exist in Job’s time?” – I will gladly have a biblically-based conversation with anyone who wants to talk about millions/billions of years, but not within this current text.
Back to the main point of this chapter – God, who created all life and the entire universe, has power over every aspect of it, including the things which are far beyond our control (such as monstrous creatures or viruses that continue mutating).
My encouragement for today is to do what God was encouraging Job to do – surrender to God’s absolute power, authority, and sovereignty over our lives. The foolishness inside of me will sometimes think “What more can I surrender, I’m already fully surrendered, right?” Then the Holy Spirit will reveal to me some aspect of my life that isn’t surrendered, humbling me (because pride is a barrier to surrender), and reminding me that I will never be completely flawless in this life – there will always be something to surrender to God. Yet, we don’t need to find this discouraging, because we know God loves us, and wants to draw us near to Him, helping us through one refinement at a time. The closer we draw to Him, the easier it is to trust the He will look after the countless things which are beyond our control.
Father God, O Holy Lord of all creation, You are majestic and powerful beyond our wildest imaginations. Thank you for pouring out Your power and might in ways that encourage and teach us. Thank you for gently humbling us when we need it, and for providing Your Spirit to guide us through the process. We praise, honor and worship You, our Almighty King, creator and ruler of the universe, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training