Behemoth
“Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.” Job 40.15
Introducing this chapter, Job finds himself woefully undone and, in the sight of God, quite insignificant by comparison. By emphasizing the fact that both Job and the Behemoth were made (Hebrew asah*) on the same day of creation, God reminds Job that Job is the creature and God is the Creator.
Having been faced with his own mortality, Job offers his silence while God sets the record straight. In His rebuke, God makes the argument that Job is unable to either defend himself or to protect himself – Job needs help – Almighty help.
Offering to Job a plethora of human impossibilities, God suggests to Job that should he be able to accomplish any of those tasks, God would concede that Job would be able to save himself. “Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.” (Job40.14)
God then draws Job’s attention to what was probably the largest land animal ever created – the Behemoth. Some have supposed this animal to be an elephant or a hippopotamus, but the description fails these animals on several sides. Neither of these two have a tail that they wag like a cedar tree. (Job 40.17) Having been named in Job 40.14, the word “behemoth” is used only once in the Bible and is transliterated rather than translated, and, unlike the Leviathan,this beast is described in detail. (Job 40.14-24)
This huge beast dominates the landscape and, while seemingly docile in nature, no other animal dares to disturb or attack it. God alone is able to master it for He created it.
Job, by some reckonings, has been questioned, interrogated, accused and humbled for the better part of a year. With all of his cogitations, he is unable to prove his innocence or to disprove the various accusations made by his companions. (These companions were elders in spiritual matters in the Land of Uz.) The more Job defended himself, the more his companions stressed their belief that Job was suffering from some hidden sin.
When God pointed out this massive creature, Job realized his diminutive size by comparison. He also conceded the fact that, next to the Creator-God, his reckoning fell far short of anything God had in His will for Job.
There will be times when we won’t understand what God is doing. And, there are times when God’s purpose may seem completely foreign. Job was not given answers for his sufferings. He was given a picture of the greatness of God and his own insignificance.
No matter how brilliant or strong an individual might be, God is more intelligent and stronger than the greatest of His creation. He knows the end from the beginning for He is both places at once. He is the alpha and the omega and all that is contained within.
He can pet the mighty Behemoth as one would cuddle a small puppy. Nothing we could ever face derails our God from His plan and purpose. In Him, we can safely trust.
* asah is the Hebrew word used to express organization and assembling. It differs from the word bara which indicates creating something from nothing.
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