Job 41:11 says, Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.  God asked Job who could stop Him from carrying out His will.  Everything under the heavens belongs to God.  As I have said before, sometimes even as followers of Christ, we want to divide the world into the sacred and the secular, but God does not do so.  Everything that we have, or ever hope to have, already belongs to God, and if we are His followers, then we must use it all for His glory.  Verse twelve says, I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.  God said that He not only saw the outside of the leviathan but that He even saw the internal parts.  Likewise, God does not just see the way that we act in the world, but He even knows the reasons that we act as we do.  Verse thirteen asks, Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?  The question was if Job thought he could tame the leviathan as he did a horse.  If we cannot even tame all the creatures of the earth, then why should we think that we should be able to control God, Who created it all.  Verse fourteen asks, Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.  When looking at the power of the leviathan, God asked Job who would be brave enough to open its mouth.  I believe that the implication is if people were afraid to face the leviathon one on one, then why would they feel that they could face God and expect to overpower Him.  If we have more respect, or even fear, of the things of this world than we do of God, then something is wrong.  The next three verses speak of the lack of a place to attack the leviathan.  Verse fifteen says, His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. Then verse sixteen states, One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.   Finally, verse seventeen adds, They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.  I understand that we do not know of a giant sea creature that has scales, but whatever this creature was had no weak points that a person could attack.  I believe that God was telling Job that God likewise had no weaknesses that Job could attack.  We are powerless in a battle with God, so we would be much better off just surrendering to His will.  Verse eighteen states, By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.  I believe that this most likely means an ability to see in the darkness of the depths of the sea.  God is not limited to what we may see in the light, but He can see into the depths of the dark places in a person's life.  We cannot hide anything from God.  Verse nineteen says, Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Then verse twenty states, Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.  Then verse twenty-one continues, His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.  Matthew Henry says these three verses refer to the power of God's word.  We know that God's word has the power to burn away lies and to create and destroy.  Fortunately for us, God's purpose is not to destroy, but to redeem.

Job 41:1 say, Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?  In this chapter, God asks Job about the leviathan, which as with the behemoth we may not be able to identify with certainty, but it was some giant fish of the deep.  Verse two asks, Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?  God was telling Job that he was basically powerless against God, just as he was against the leviathan.  We today might say that there is no creature that we do not have the ability to catch or even destroy with all our technical ability, but one on one, there are still those creatures that would easily destroy us.  When we oppose God, we are as powerless as we would be in a fight against the great fish of the sea in its own habitat.  Not only is God more powerful than we are, but the universe is His natural habitat.  Verse three asks, Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?  I believe that God was asking Job if he thought the levithan with would plead with him if they encountered each other.  The implication was that Job should not expect God to approach him as One Who needed Job to allow God to accomplish His purpose.  We will never be able to control God.  Verse four asks, Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?  I believe that God was asking Job if he thought he could force this powerful sea creature to enter into a relationship with him.  The implication was that Job, nor anyone else, has enough power to force God to enter into a relationship with Him.  Verse five asks, Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?  God asked Job if he thought he could make a pet of the levithan.  I believe that God was asking Job if he thought he could tame God to do exactly what Job wanted Him to do.  I think sometimes we want God to be conformed to our will.  Instead of just always relying on God, we often complain and live as though God has failed us instead of simply relying on and praising Him.   Verse six asks, Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?  I believe that God was asking Job if he thought God existed simply for the profit of his friends and Job.  Verse seven asks, Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?  I believe this was just another way of asking Job if he thought he were powerful enough or had weapons enough to defeat God.  We may marvel at the power of bombs that exist today, but they are nothing compared to the power of God.  Verse eight says, Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.  I believe that God was telling Job that he should realize that a battle against God was futile, and so should we.  The only way to win a battle against God is to surrender before it starts.  When we attempt to blame God for trouble in our lives, we are fighting a losing battle.  Verse nine says, Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?  God told Job that a battle against the leviathan was so hopeless that even the sight of such creature brought fear to people.  Knowing that we are in God's presence should bring the same sense of awe at His power.  Again, we may say that today there are no creatures that we don't have the ability to defeat, but if we approach them one on one, this is not true, and ultimately that is how everyone encounters God.  No one, nor any group of people, will ever have the power to defeat God, and as His followers we should never even attempt to.  When we question God, that is what we are doing, attempting to force His will to be our own.  Verse ten asks, None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?  God asked Job if there were creatures in the world that he would not want to stir up, then why did Job think he could stand before God.  Job had been held up as an example of a truly righteous man, until he started questioning God.  It would be such a shame today for us to allow conditions in this world to come between God and us.  We should never feel that we are justified in questioning God.

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.

Job 40:1 says, Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,  During his speeches, Job had accused God of not listening, but God had answered Job at length in speaking about creation.  Now, God was going to make it more personal.  God had asked Job about the universe, the world, and animals, and now He asked Job about people.  Verse two asks, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.  Job had been reminded of Who God is, and since Job was indeed contending with God in his answers to his friends, God told Job if he felt that was his right, then to speak up.  I believe that if we question God, there will come a point, if we are God's by faith through Christ, when He will make us aware of how foolish we are to question Him.  Verse three states, Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  Job wanted his chance to present his case to God and declare his innocence, and God was giving him his opportunity.  I believe that God will always listen to what we have to say if we are His followers,, but we will never have the right to blame God for anything that happens to us in life.  In verse four Job declares, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.  Job had been proclaiming his innocence, but now he could only declare himself as guilty of being vile by the very nature of questioning and doubting God.  Job's troubles had not been caused by sin in his life, but by his continued questioning of God he had become vile, or sinful.  In verse five Job states, Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.  God invited Job to answer Him, and Job said that he had already said too much.  Job had no answer that would be based on anything other than self-righteousness, and neither can we when we begin to question God.  I believe that Job was now ready to put everything he was under God's will.  Job would no longer question God, and that is where we need to be when trouble comes into our life.  If we are indeed followers of Christ, then we can never question God's protection for us forevermore.   Verse six says, Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,  Once more, God's answer came out of a whirlwind.  I believe that God will always answer us in a way that will allow us to know that it is really He Who is talking to us.  It might be the whirlwind or the still small voice, but we will never have any doubt that it is God speaking.  Then we begin to hear God's message for Job.  Verse seven declares, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.  God told Job to start acting not only as a man, but I believe as a man of faith.  God said that He would make a demand of Job, and that He expected Job to declare his faith in God.  If God makes demands of us today, we must stand like people of faith, ready to declare our faith in God no matter what.  Verse eight asks, Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?  God asked Job if he would dismiss God's judgment in order to show himself to be righteous.  This is really what we do when we claim that God is not treating us fairly.  We place our righteousness above God's righteousness. Verse nine asks, Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?  God asked Job if he felt more powerful than God is.  When we think that circumstances in life have somehow overpowered us and limited God's ability to protect us, we have limited God's power.  If we feel that our own righteousness should dictate God's actions, we likewise have limited God's power.  Verse ten states, Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.  I believe that this was God calling Job to repent and return to following God's will.  Job had been arrayed in God's glory, not because of what he had materially, but because of his faithfulness to God.  Even if we have nothing materially, we can be arrayed in God's glory if we are obedient to Him.  Verse eleven says, Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.  As God told Job, if we are going to be obedient to Him, we cannot rage against Him. We cannot come to God in self-righteousness or pride, but must come as humble servants.  Verse twelve says, Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.  I believe that God was speaking of those who are self-righteous, who would claim that they alone are responsible for their success and that God has nothing to do with anything.  Verse thirteen states, Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.  God tells Job that he should be able to bring down the rich and powerful who live by their own righteousness if he were as powerful as God.  I do not believe that this was a call to war against the rich and powerful, but an acknowledgement that Job was not powerful enough to judge them.  Verse fourteen then declares, Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.  God told Job that if he could really justify himself by accomplishing what only God could do, then God would acknowledge that Job could save himself.  This was not a statement that Job, or anyone else, could be made right with God by self-righteousness.  Instead, God was pointing out the impossibility of Job being able to justify, or save, himself.  We can never justify ourselves before God by our own actions.  We can only be justified by faith in God and His plan of redemption, which is Christ, crucified, resurrected, Lord.

Job 39:13 asks, Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?  God continues to ask Job about the nature and even the care of other creatures.  He asks about the peacock and the ostrich.  The peacock struts around in its beauty, but is really of little use to people.  When people start to strut around, more worried about the way they look than how they may help others, they are of little value to God.  Verse fourteen says, Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,  The ostrich is not a nesting, caring bird.  She lays her eggs wherever she happens to be and leaves them.  Verse fifteen states, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.  The ostrich is not concerned about what might happen to her eggs.  Verse sixteen says, She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;  The question is what did this mean to Job, and therefore to us.  I believe that God was saying that just as He sustained the ostrich in spite of her carelessness with her eggs, that He likewise sustained even those who refused to live by His will.  We might think, as Job was claiming, that God would allow those who did not follow Him to simply pass out of existence, but God sustains the life of even those who refuse to acknowledge Him, at least in this life.  Verse seventeen says, Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.  The ostrich acts the way that it does because it lacks the knowledge to do otherwise.  I believe that God was saying that when people live absorbed by their own desires that they do so because they lack an understanding of God's will for their lives.  Verse eighteen says, What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.  The ostrich and peacock may strut around proudly and ignore the horse, who is serving a purpose, but that does not make them more important.  I believe that God was reminding Job that prosperity does not mean that a person is following God.  God expects more from His people than just vain glory.  Verse nineteen asks, Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?  It may seem that God was asking Job basically the same question over and over, and that was if Job had the ability to sustain all life.  Since Job had at length professed that God was being unfair to Him, I believe that God was just reminding Job that he did not have the power nor the ability to question God.  Verse twenty asks, Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.  Job could not change the nature of nature of horses, because God had made them as they are, so why did Job feel that he could question God.  In the next five verses God continues to ask Job about the nature of horses.  Verse twenty-one says, He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.  Then verse twenty-two states, He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.  Verse twenty-three says, The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.  Then verse twenty-four continues, He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. Finally verse twenty-five concludes, He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.  I believe that God was saying that among other things that the horse is powerful and mighty, but lacks the ability to reason.  A horse will change into battle, but will also shy away from unexpected movements, like a grasshopper.  People should have the ability to stand strong in their relationship to God through small problems or war itself.  In the rest of the chapter, God asks Job about hawks and eagles.  Verse twenty-six asks, Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?  Then verse twenty-seven asks, Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?  Verse twenty-eight states, She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. Then verse twenty-nine says, From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.  Verse thirty concludes, Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.  I believe that these questions and statements about hawks and eagles were just reminders to Job that God was the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.  If Job could not answer God's questions about why creation is as it is, then why should he feel free to question God in the way that he was treated.  If we truly follow God, and the world seems to collapse around us, we can never feel that God is the cause of the problems or that He will not deliver us from them.  We need to simply remain true to God.

Job 39:1 asks, Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?  I know that it is possible to know about when a tame goat that is expecting will deliver, but God was asking Job about all the wild goats and deer.  Job could not know, but God did.  Verse two asks, Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?  This is a continuation of the question in the last verse.  We may have an overall knowledge of the time it takes for an animal to give birth, but even then we cannot guarantee that the birth will occur at a precise moment, but God knows.  I believe that God was simply pointing out the superiority of His knowledge compared  to Job's.  Verse three says, They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.  God said that the wild animals did not need people in order to have their babies successfully, but they did need God.  Verse four says, Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.  After the birth and nurturing of the babies, the babies grow to maturity without the help of any person.  This could be a good example for people, that children should be reared to become independent from their parents.  I believe that God was telling Job that He was in control of everything without needing any help from people, who are His creation.  Even the wild goats were a testimony to God's sustaining power.  Verse five asks, Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?  Matthew Henry says that the wild ass was often seen as free from all responsibility.  God said that He was the One Who had set them free.  We might ask what purpose they have, but instead we should simply accept that this is a part of God's plan.  Verse six says, Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.  The wild ass was set free in the wilderness.  They could live on nearly barren land.  Verse seven says, He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.  I believe that these two verses speak of being free without any nurturing versus being tamed and cared for.  If we put our faith in God, we are no longer free to simply do what we want to do, but must put our lives under the leadership of God.   Verse eight says, The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.  The wild ass is free to wander everywhere, but must search for its own food.  If we wander free from God's leadership, then we should not be surprised if we have to provide for our own spiritual care.  We may succeed materially, but we will fail spiritually.  Verse nine asks, Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?   We may not really know what the animal called the unicorn is, but Matthew Henry says that it is a wild untameable beast.  There are certain animals that cannot be domesticated enough to be trusted to do what we want them to.  There are some people who refuse to follow God, and therefore cannot be trusted to do His will.  Verse ten asks,  Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?  Then verse eleven says, Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?  As just stated, I believe that God was asking Job if he could trust the unicorn, or wild and untameable beast to plow crops.  Verse twelve asks, Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?  I believe that God was asking if He could trust those who refused to follow Him no matter what if they could be trusted with accomplishing His will for their lives.  We must put God first in every aspect of our lives if we are going to be successful in following Him and accomplishing His purpose in our lives.

I will wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2018  A.D. , which stands for anno Domini, which means "in the year of the Lord," or as some would say, "in the year of our Lord."  As I have previously stated, some would now write 2018 C.E., for Common Era.  Time is still divided by one event in history, the birth of Christ, no matter whether people attempt to change the designation of that event or not.  The Jewish calender does not acknowledge the fact of the birth of Jesus as the birth of the Messiah, so there is no division in their calendar, so it would seem that those who do not want to acknowledge the birth of Christ would just follow the Jewish calender.  Even if they don't want to do that, then they could interpret it as the Lord, and not our Lord. The only thing separating C.E. , or Common Era, from B.C.E., Before Common Era, is the same event that separates B.C., Before Christ, from A.D., and that is the birth of Jesus, the Christ.  Nothing else makes it a common era.  Even when writing A.D., which we usually do not even add, there is a difference between the Lord and our Lord.  Whether Jesus is just the Lord or our Lord makes all the difference.  The fact of the birth of Christ cannot be denied, but for many, He is not their Lord, no matter the designation written after the date.  For the birth of Jesus to really have meaning, He must be our Lord, and if He is such, then we will always be living in the year of our Lord, no matter what people write after the date.  So, as followers of Christ, what we do in His year should be directed by Him.  I know it is the time to make resolutions, most of which are soon forgotten, but we as His followers need to resolve to make it Christ's year in fact and not just in statement alone.  Every year since the birth of Christ has been a year of the Lord in fact, whether we want to acknowledge it or not.  We need to follow what Christ calls us to do, everyday of this new year.  We must be a witness for Christ in the lost world.  Even as those of the world attempt to remove any reference to Christ from everything, we as His followers must make sure that we proclaim Him in all that we do.  If we can do that, any other resolution will be unimportant in comparison.  Yes, there are things that we can do that make life better in this world, relating simply to the material or physical aspects of life, but only those things that we do for Christ, our Lord if we are His followers, will really have lasting value.  So, may we as followers of Christ make 2018 truly be a year of our Lord.