The story of Job is familiar to us. We know how he lost everything and God restored it. We know how his “friends” came against him. We usually know the first part where Satan approached God and God gave him permission to test Job (reminds me of Luke 22:31). Yet, Job is a hard book to read and understand.
Today’s reading starts off with ‘will you correct me?’ Then goes on to basically say ‘are you anything like me (v. 9) for if you are do this…’ (v. 10-13).
God then goes on to describe a few animals that are strong and mighty. One of which he says “ranks first among the works of God” (v. 19). My study Bible indicates a hippopotamus or elephant and a crocodile. My Jewish study Bible says a mythologized hippo or crocodile (stories that would have been familiar to Job) but also indicates a dragon or sea monster instead of a crocodile.
Even though these animals are strong and mighty, God says in 41:2 “who can stand against me” and verse 3, “for everything under heaven belongs to me.”
It is interesting to me that in 40:6 it says that God spoke to Job ‘out of the storm.’ It is often in the ‘storms of our lives’ that God will show us just who he is. He is strong and mighty. Everything is under his control. Yes, just like for Job, bad things can and do happen. But even in the midst of these ‘storms’ God is still there.
Whenever you face trials, take a deep breath and a moment and realize that God is there and is fighting your battles for you. But the answer and how it works out is up to him. For he knows the end since the beginning and it is all going to work as he intends.
Melissa Jones Going, Tampa, Fla.
