Set to dark modeSet to dark modeThe Bible Says Commentary on Job 41
Please choose a passage in Job 41
Job 41:1-11 continues God’s rhetorical questions to Job, which emphasize how small and unknowing Job is. The Lord is making abundantly clear that Job cannot teach Him anything, but can only learn from Him. Job cannot master creation. But God is the master of creation. He demonstrates how He knows all things and does not need Job to argue to Him what he deserves.
Job 41:12-17 continues to hold up the Leviathan as an illustration to Job. God describes the size and strength of the animal, its terrible teeth and how impenetrably it is armored by airtight double layers of scales. Humans cannot contend with the Leviathan; how then would they have anything to teach God who created it?
Job 41:18-24 continues God’s description of the mighty Leviathan. Leviathan can issue flames from his mouth. His eyes burn with the fire within. Smoke comes from his nose, his breath can start fires. He is impossibly dangerous and unapproachable. All who see him are afraid. His heart is like a boulder, heavy and immoveable. This is an animal that has no tenderness, but is entirely strong, dangerous, and unfeeling toward anything that approaches it. And God created this creature. Why then does Job think he can approach God and show Him a perspective He lacks?
Job 41:25-34 finishes the illustration of the Leviathan, the mightiest and most dangerous animal. When the Leviathan stands up he strikes fear into those who see him, because he is so enormous and loud when he moves. No weapon made by man can do anything to him. Swords and spears are like stalks of hay or rotten twigs that crumble against him. Even his underbelly is impenetrable and deadly; he has no weakness. When he swims in the ocean he makes enormous waves. No other animal is like him. He fears nothing. And God created him. Why does Job think God needs Job’s counsel or arguments? God is working for Job’s good; it is Job who needs to grow his perspective of God.
God continues to ask Job rhetorical questions which emphasize how small and unknowing Job is. The Lord is making abundantly clear that Job cannot teach Him anything, but can only learn from Him. Job cannot master creation. But God is the master of creation. He demonstrates how He knows all things and does not need Job to argue to Him what he deserves.
God’s crowning illustration for Job to ponder is the Leviathan: an enormous animal which humans cannot catch or conquer. If humans cannot master the Leviathan, what can they say to the One who created it?
God describes the size and strength of the animal, his terrible teeth and how impenetrably he is armored by airtight double layers of scales. Humans cannot contend with the Leviathan; how then would they have anything to teach God who created it?
Leviathan can issue flames from his mouth. His eyes burn with the fire within. Smoke comes from his nose; his breath can start fires. He is impossibly dangerous and unapproachable. All who see him are afraid. His heart is like a boulder, heavy and immoveable. This is an animal that has no tenderness, but is entirely strong, dangerous, and unfeeling toward anything that approaches him. And God created this creature. Why then does Job think he can approach God and show Him a perspective He lacks?
When the Leviathan stands up, he strikes fear into those who see him, because he is so enormous and loud when he moves. No weapon made by man can do anything to him. Swords and spears are like stalks of hay or rotten twigs that crumble against him. Even his underbelly is impenetrable and deadly; he has no weakness. When he swims in the ocean he makes enormous waves. No other animal is like him. He fears nothing. And God created him. Why does Job think God needs Job’s counsel or arguments? God is working for Job’s good; it is Job who needs to grow his perspective of God.
Job 41 is part of God’s loving discipline: God is leading Job to the deepest gift-knowing Him by faith—because “eternal life is to know” God and His Son (John 17:3).
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