Bible Readings

Reading 27: God questions Job

Read Job 40:1–41:34.

So far, we’ve witnessed Job’s friends trying to convince him that he had committed some sin in his life and that’s why he was facing so much suffering and tragedy (loss of wealth and reputation, loss of his children and loss of his health).

But Job kept insisting he had not sinned against God (which was true). But he began to wonder where was God’s sense of fairness and justice?

Then God spoke to Job (Job 38). He started with a long series of questions, asking Job if he knew how the universe came to be and how the universe was sustained. The questions were aimed at getting Job to realise that the Creator-God is extremely powerful and nothing is beyond Him.

Then here in Job 40 God begins a second speech. He asks, “Do you want still want to argue with the Almighty?” Since Job isn’t the one who sustains the universe, does he know enough about what is happening that he can accuse God of not being fair? (Recall that Job is completely unaware of Satan trying to get him to turn his back on God.)

God continues by asking Job to consider two powerful creatures: the behemoth and the leviathan. What are they? Both have biblical names, but by their descriptions, they appear to be what we today would call dinosaurs. (The word “dinosaur” which means “terrible lizard” is a recently invented word. It was coined by Sir Richard Owen in 1842. The Bible has its own vocabulary to name these creatures.)

God challenges Job to subdue these big and powerful creatures. Obviously, Job can’t do that. So if he can’t tame two of the creatures that God had created, could he possibly know enough to tell God how to run the universe?

God is showing Job that as a mere man, he is not qualified to take over God’s job or to criticise how God is controlling and conquering evil in the world. God is implying that since He can control the creatures He made, He also has full control over the universe He made.

And that’s something for us to consider. As humans, there are many things outside of our control. Though we may be like Job, working hard and being faithful to God as best we can, still we can be impacted by evil, sin and suffering. There are many things beyond our control and awareness and they are not necessarily related to our behaviour.

Instead of accusing God of being unjust, uncaring or unfair, we need to learn to be humble before the Almighty Creator-God. Until we are humble before Him, He won’t do for us what needs to be done. As long we keep complaining and defending ourselves against Him, He won’t work for us to accomplish His plan through us.

As we consider the difficult challenges in our life, what is our attitude? Are we grumbling against God? Or are we making ourselves humble before Him, asking Him to do what we ourselves cannot?

Let us examine our own hearts and ask God for help to have the right attitude towards Him.