Job 41:1: “Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?”

January 5th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In chapter 41, God pointed Job to another beast He called Leviathan as an example of His power. Leviathan is a word that appears in 5 other Old Testament texts. The name Leviathan comes from a Hebrew word that means twisted or coiled. In all the verses, Leviathan refers to some mighty creature that can easily overwhelm man but is no match for God. Many animals have been suggested, from whales to crocodiles to dinosaurs, but the point God was making remains, no matter which animal you chose to identify it as. God is mightier than the Leviathans in our lives.

American pastor and theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote what is known as “The Serenity Prayer.” Many only know the first line. However, the entire prayer is necessary and helpful when we find ourselves in Job-like struggles in our own lives:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

“LORD, this is our prayer for ourselves today.”

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Job 41 KJV

¹ 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 wordsunto 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 irons? 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 himwith his double bridle?  ¹⁴ Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth areterrible 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