Job 40:3–4: “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.'”

January 4th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In the face of God Almighty’s questions, Job couldn’t help but recognize his own unworthiness and insignificance; and he was amazed by the majesty he saw in God. In response, he said he would be quiet and stop talking. How much less talking would there be if we lived in a continual awareness of the presence of God. We all have questions about life that God has chosen, even in His Word, not to reveal the answers to. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more questions we have and the more we become aware that we will not get all the answers this side of heaven.

God was pointing out Job’s lack of understanding about 2 types of animals in this and the next chapter. Humans cannot control these animals, but God can and does. The first is aptly called Behemoth and the description of this huge animal has been puzzling Scripture readers for centuries. Although some see the hippo or elephant, a careful reading of the text suggests otherwise, with many reading in this a description of a dinosaur. A hippo has a short weak tail, but Behemoth’s large tail is shaped like a “cedar tree.”

The word dinosaur does not appear in Scripture. And British Paleontologist Richard Owen was the first to suggest the word in 1842, when he classified large fossil animals as dinosauria. Although current fossil dating techniques suggest that the last dinosaurs died about 65 million years ago, we may expect that date to be reduced as dating techniques improve. But whatever the species, whatever its size and power, God can control it as easily as an ant. So, is He capable of taking care of our problems today? Indeed.

“Thank You, LORD, for Your power and protection on us this day. We entrust our lives to You.”

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Job 40 KJV

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. 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. 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. ¹⁵ Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.  ¹⁶Lo 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 . ²⁰Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. ²¹He 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.