In chapter 41 God drew Job’s attention to another of the powerful creatures of God’s creation. Leviathan is an amazing creature. We do not see these today either, due to the change in the climate after the flood of Noah’s day. There could still be some of these creatures around, but we do not see them in Canada.
This animal was so strong and large that it was beyond human attack. Man did not hunt this animal to the point where they are not seen today. In verses 19-21 we are told that this is a fire breathing creature. We are also told that he has the capacity to make the water boil with his movements. The scales on his body are so tight that it is impossible for a spear to pierce him. This animal seemingly has no enemy that it must fear. There may have been some that tried to attack it, but it seems to be beyond attack.
In verse 24 we read that this creature has a heart that is as firm as a stone. It is hard as a piece of a millstone. This is an animal that God is speaking of, but He describes the nature of the heart of this animal in a way that is also true of every human being at some point. Sadly, most people will continue to solidify their hard hearts as they continually reject the truth and follow after their own version of the lie. We need to be aware of this situation and be careful not to follow our heart, but rather follow God.
God asked Job if this powerful animal could be tamed by little old Job? Could Job make a covenant with this animal. Could he harness the strength of this animal for his benefit? Again, Job was confronted with his attitude toward God. It was completely unjustified.
God did not fear leviathan. God did not need to run and hide from this creature. The fire this animal could breathe out would not affect God in any way. The same was not true for man. Man needed to show great respect for this creature.
God was not going to let Job go on with his disrespect for the truth. Job was a man of God. God expected better from Job than what He had received. It was time for Job to be stopped. God expects more of His children than He does from the lost. The lost are not immune to His judgment. However, those who are truly His children, need to behave like His children. Those who profess to be His children but are not, are in a different category. Job’s four friends would not be immune to God’s judgment. His judgment for them would be real and it would be just. Job needed to repent toward God in order to be able to be used of God to help others.
Christians today need to be Christians. The facade that has permeated Christianity for far too long needs to be broken and destroyed. It will be soon. Soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will return and claim His own to be with Him. The many frauds will not be taken at that time. They will await the great white throne judgment.
We have the Word of God. We can look at the wisdom and power of God. We can see His goodness and His mercy and grace. There is no justification for rejecting Him. Satan is a liar. God says so. He was seeking to destroy Job and also God. He failed on both counts. He was able to weaken Job for a time, but God would not allow him to destroy Job.
Job would learn from this powerful and needful rebuke from God. He would benefit greatly from this. His wife would be blessed by his correction and humility. He would soon have a new family that would also be blessed by his transformation at God’s hands.
God is teaching us some very important truths throughout the book of Job. As we come nearer to the end, it is important for us to be reminded of His greatness and that we can trust Him in all things. Nothing that happens to any person is out of His reach. Nothing is done in secret. He can break the hardest person. He can heal the broken hearted. His way works every time. We need to know His way and submit to His leadership.
Pastor Bartel