When the final ‘Lord of the Rings’ film, ‘The Return of the King’, came out, one of my friends noted that after the film had come to what he considered to be a natural end it went on a while longer. I mentioned that the book was the same.  J.R.R. Tolkien, the author, having served in the First World War, was aware war seldom left people unchanged.  Therefore, he wanted to show there was a cost to the main character, even when the main story was over.  So, where my friend felt the story had come to an end, Tolkien considered there was still unfinished business.At the start of chapter 40 the Lord concludes his speech with the words: ‘Shall the fault-finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it’ (v1).  Job then answers God and it seems to be an admission that he will not bring any accusation against him.  But in verses 6-7 the Lord, again invokes the wrestling term he used in chapter 38 verse 3 and, before we know it, it’s ‘seconds out’ round 2 as the Lord clearly concludes that he has unfinished business with Job!  Much has been written about the nature of Job’s reply.  But Francis Andersen highlights the main issue ‘Job’s response is subdued, humble. He rates himself as ‘light’, but hardly “contemptible” but is it correct to say that Job ‘confessed and submitted?’[1]  And that is the question that needs to be addressed.  Job is backing off rather than backing down as he feels that he can’t win the argument.  This is what he means in verses 4-5 where he says: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.  I have spoken once, and I will not answer, twice, but I will proceed no further.”  But all Job is offering to do is shut up!  And that doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t feel that he has been wronged by God!

So the Lord drastically ups the stakes!  The language of Verses 8-14 alerts us that the Lord is taking Job into a completely new sphere. He is asking Job: “do you think you could run the universe like I can?”  If we are inclined to question the Lord’s pastoral manner towards someone who has suffered so much, then we’re missing the key phrase which is the central issue here.  Verse 8 is translated by the NIV as: ‘would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?’  The point is Job in his long debate with his friends has occasionally said some foolish things.  During the back-and-forth of argument Job had said something which summed up his thinking concerning his situation and God’s role in it.  The NIV is helpful with its translation: ‘As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul’ (27:2) and Job has not backed down from this statement!  So the Lord challenges Job as to how well would he do if he took his place (vs10-14)?  William Henry Green hits the nail on the head when he asks was Job: ‘prepared to assume the government of the world, and take it out of the hands of the Most High, whose administration he had ventured to arraign? God challenges him to show a power or exercise deeds the judgments which would warrant these bold pretensions.’[2]  A lot of people (Christians among them) spend time questioning God’s governance of the world and passing judgment on it!  But it raises a worthwhile question, because if he isn’t just and fair why worship him?  Hence, the metaphorical wrestling match must continue!

That leaves us thinking what the Lord says next has got to rate pretty highly on the impressive scale! And that is certainly the case with the Lord using the example of two animals which are the most impressive, other than man, among his created works.  The first is ‘Behemoth’.  The name: ‘seems to mean beast par excellence’.[3]  This has generally been taken to refer to the hippopotamus or elephant.  But there are huge difficulties in adopting this view and I find myself reluctantly agreeing with George Bernard Shaw as I can hardly comprehend that the answer to Job’s issues are solved by the Lord presenting the hippopotamus as one of his greatest works!  Although it might be controversial, I would suggest that this is a creature that has long become extinct probably a brontosaurus or a brachiosaurus.  That would count as being impressive where Job is concerned and would give credence to the Lord’s statement: “He is the first of the works of God” (v19a).

This brings us to the point being made in verses15-24. This creature is monumental among God’s works, which is made clear with the detailed descriptions of his strength and might of his anatomy (vs16-18).  This beast is so strong and mighty that when the River Jordan is in flood and everyone is running for cover this creature is in its element.  Verse 24 illustrates this creature is untameable.  Many of the other creatures used as examples in chapters 38-39 have been domesticated.  But no one would even think of trying that where Behemoth was concerned.  No, Job certainly couldn’t handle Behemoth, but God can as: ‘He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!’ (v19).  But if Job thought Behemoth was impressive, the Lord’s next example would have almost certainly overwhelmed and terrified Job!

The Lord’s second example is a creature named ‘Leviathan’. Traditionally it is thought this refers to the crocodile, although some considered it refers to a whale.  However, despite being very dangerous, crocodiles can be quite easily hunted and killed.  Another objection to Leviathan being identified with the crocodile is: ‘that there is no reference in the OT to crocodiles in Palestine.’[4]  The ESV footnotes are helpful here as it is referred to as: ‘A large sea animal, exact identity unknown’.  This suggests a creature that is probably extinct in our day and age.  But the main thing we really need to note is that Leviathan is well beyond Job’s ability to handle.  The text takes on a darkly comic flavour.  What the Lord says in verses 1-5 could be paraphrased in the following way.  “Job do you think you could take your best fishing tackle and catch Leviathan?  Can you tame him; do you think he’d entered into a bit of polite conversation and make an agreement with you?  Would he be happy to let you play with him as one does with a pet bird?  Do you think he would make the ideal pet for your daughters?”  Reading on we realize this creature is a savage and unreasonable beast!  If Job made a present of Leviathan to his daughters, the screams wouldn’t be screams of delight at daddy’s new present and when Job went to investigate he’d have probably would have found Leviathan licking his lips and looking at  him as if he was ready for desert!  Job is told: ‘Lay your hands on him; remember the battle-you will not do it again!’ (v8).  It makes it clear that if you cared to have a physical try-out with Leviathan it is you who would suffer!

So if no one can stand before Leviathan and try and call him to account the Lord reasons: ‘Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?  Whatever is under the whole of heaven is mine’ (v10b-11).  What is inferred here is Job is completely out of his depth!  Verses 12-34 continue with not just a physical description of this powerful beast but also (as if we doubted it) how downright dangerous it is.  Verse 26 continues to build a picture of an animal that is impossible to tame and that you wouldn’t think of taking on even if you had weapons to hand as: ‘Even the mightiest hero’s on facing Leviathan are terrified by its majestic appearance.’[5]  Yet there’s a rather interesting illustration concerning Leviathan in Psalm 104 versus 25-26.  ‘Here is the sea, great and wide which teams with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.’  The Lord’s sovereignty doesn’t just extend over all creation including the sea, but even over this savage unreasonable beast!  The picture given in these verses is of Leviathan being like a small child happily playing in a play pen; the NIV actually uses the word ‘frolic’.  Leviathan maybe big and scary where Job is concerned, but where the Lord is concerned he is like a happy little child at play where the Lord has put him!

Yet as scary as Leviathan was, there’s a second level on which the Lord’s example works and this explains why it is the final example that’s given to Job. Rather interestingly the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) uses the word ‘dragon’ in place of Leviathan.[6]  When we also note that: ‘The name Leviathan was associated with a seven-headed sea dragon in ancient mythology’ and also: ‘the dragon which, according to popular ancient mythology, was supposed to cause eclipses by wrapping its coils around the sun’[7] we start to understand that there is more going on in Job’s mind concerning Leviathan.[8]  The whole concept of Leviathan is playing on the primeval fears (indeed, Job’s reference to Leviathan in chapter 3 verse 8 had sinister connotations).  An example today would be although we may not believe in ghosts and goblins, how many of us would be comfortable taking a walk through a graveyard on a pitch black and moonless night?  Our rational mind may tell us there’s nothing to be afraid of, but…… and that’s Job’s problem here.

But even if we are unaware of the mythological significance of Leviathan the text gives us a hint that there’s something more to this. After the Lord’s graphic and terrifying description of Leviathan he concludes: ‘He sees everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride’ (v34).  Pride is always the root of disobedience to God.  Satan being cast out of heaven is associated with his pride.  Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:16-19, although prophecies concerning earthly Kings being proud, they work on a second level concerning Satan.  Yet this verse points to Leviathan being one those who the proud pay homage to!  It doesn’t take theological mathematics to see that Leviathan could also represent Satan, the one who, unbeknown to Job, has brought an accusation against him and caused him all his trouble due to his slanderous accusation against the Lord!

So in these speeches the Lord has shown himself to be in complete control over his creation. Even the fierce and mighty Leviathan is ‘his’ Leviathan and as surprising as it might seem the same applies where Satan is concerned!  His hatred for God’s creation and his people is checked and he cannot harm them unless the Lord’s divine plan allows it.  In a strange way that should encourage us.  Whatever happens, nothing is outside the Lord’s control.  He may allow us to face testing times but he controls our destiny.  Paul writing to the Church in Roman speaks of the Christian’s present difficulties (Romans 8:18-25) then assures them: ‘What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? (Romans 8:33).  The encouraging thing, in answer to Paul’s rhetorical question, is no one can as God will not allow any spiritual harm to come to his children!

But what will Job’s response be now…….?

Would you like to listen to a sermon on this passage? The Lord Speaks: a Magnificent Irrelevance or Totally Transcendent?

[1] Francis I. Andersen, Job, An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1976), 285.

[2] William Henry Green, Conflict and Triumph (Banner Truth Trust, 1999) 148-9.

[3] Derek Thomas, The Storm Breaks, Job simply explained (Darlington, Evangelical Press 1995), 302.

[4] J.D. Douglas, editor, The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Part 2, Goliath-Papyri (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1980), 896.

[5] John E. Hartley, The Book of Job, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), 533

[6] Robert Fyall, How does God Treat His Friends (Fearn, Christian Focus Publications Ltd, 1995), 121.

[7] Douglas, Bible Dictionary, Part 2, 896.

[8] Thomas, The Storm Breaks, 304.