Friday, January 5, 2018

Job 40:15 says, Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.  I am not sure what animal is called the behemoth, but Matthew Henry says that most people would think God was referring to the elephant.  Whatever beast it was, it was big and powerful.  Yet, the behemoth was content to eat grass like an ox would.  I believe that God was saying that even those with great power should be content living at peace with everyone and not abuse their power.  Verse sixteen says, Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.  I believe that God was still speaking about the fact that might does not make right.  This powerful animal could have defeated most animals, but even with its great strength was content to eat the grass around it.  I believe that this means that as God's followers we are to be content with what He provides for us without attempting to use our riches and power, if we have them, to attempt take what belongs to others.  Verse seventeen says, He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. They in verse eighteen God says, His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.  God continued to speak of the power of this beast.  People, with only their hands to defend themselves, could never overcome this beast if it were engaged against them.  The same is true of people in their fight against God. We can never overpower God.  Verse nineteen says, He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.  God said that even with the physical power of this beast, God could easily destroy it.  We need to acknowledge that no matter how powerful we may be in the eyes of the world that we are powerless before God.  The last five verses speak of the provision and contentment that God brings to the behemoth. Verse twenty says, Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.  Verse twenty-one says, He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. Verse twenty-two states, The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.  Then verse twenty-three says, Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.  Finally, verse twenty-four four states, He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.  I believe that God was telling Job that he could rely on God to provide for him and that Job should be content in that knowledge.  When we look around us today, if we are followers of Christ, we should be content in the knowledge that we are forever secure and provided for by the power of God.

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