Job 39:1-4 points to the mountain goats and the deer as examples for Job to ponder. These creatures give birth without Job’s knowledge or oversight; their children grow up and leave home without anyone training them or leading them. God has created order; He has made animals capable of sustaining themselves generation after generation. Job and his perspective are irrelevant to what occurs in God’s design for the animal kingdom. God is not lacking in wisdom or insight.

Job 39:5-12 points to the wild donkey and the wild ox. Both animals live in freedom in the wilderness, uninterested in what man might command them to do. The wild donkey is capable of survival in remote, uninhabited places. It finds food where we might not expect. The wild ox is strong and does what it wants, not working the plow for humans. No human, including Job, can command it what to do. The all-powerful and all-knowing God has created these creatures to sustain themselves where humans would perish.

Job 39:13-18 makes an example of the ostrich. To the outside observer, the ostrich seems foolish. The ostrich buries its eggs in the sand and seems to forget about them. Yet the eggs are warmed and eventually hatch, even though it seemed the ostrich doomed its offspring. Despite seeming silly and senseless, the ostrich cannot outrun a horse. God’s glory and power is displayed in people and places we might underestimate. Job has not pondered any of this until now, when he petitioned God to explain why He should stop his suffering. But God is showing Job the extent of His wisdom and power.

Job 39:19-25 asks Job to consider the horse. God asks him if he has given the horse attributes which Job obviously did not. Who created the horse, man or God? The strength, the design, the ability to leap, to snort and paw. The amazing courage of a war horse to face weapons, to charge into danger without stopping and throwing its rider.

Job 39:26-30 points to the hawk and the eagle. Job does not speak authority over these animals, causing them to fly, or even understand how they are able to fly. These birds build lives and raise young on dangerous cliffs no one can reach. They can see far off and they feed their young on dead flesh and blood. These are incredible things. These birds lead incredible lives that no human has any input into. And God created these birds, in His infinite wisdom and power. God is showing Job just how little he understands, how Job needs God’s perspective, not the other way around.