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“Summaries, Job 37-41”
Categories: Bulletin Articles
Job 37 is the conclusion of Elihu’s speech. If you’ll recall, Elihu is the whippersnapper who was so provoked by the ignorance of Job and his three friends that he had to say something. He begins here by inviting Job to consider the majesty of God as revealed by thunderstorms. He creates lightning, thunder, snow, rain, cold, and ice. The storm goes wherever He wants it to. He asks Job whether Job is God’s equal in understanding and power. Does he know how God makes thunderstorms? Can he himself make a drought? God is incomprehensible, so wise men learn to fear Him.
Job 38 is the beginning of God’s discourse. Unsurprisingly, He gets the last word in the book! He opens by inviting Job to prove his fitness to question Him. He asks Job if he was around when God created the earth, or restrained the seas, or separated day from night. Has Job traveled in the depths of the ocean, followed light to its source, or seen how various forms of precipitation are created? Can Job guide the stars, control the weather, or provide for the animals of the world?
Job 39 continues in similar vein. Does Job understand the lives of the mountain goats? Does he know everything about wild donkeys? Can he tame wild oxen? Does he understand God’s purpose in the folly of the ostrich? Does he strengthen the horse? Does he guide the flight of the hawk?
Job 40 contains God’s summation. He invites Job to accuse Him if Job can understand all of those things. Not surprisingly, Job declines the invitation, acknowledging that he isn’t fit to question God. Nonetheless, God continues to point out Job’s limitations. He asks if Job is able to rule mankind as God does. He describes Behemoth (some large beast whose identity we can speculate about but not determine) and asks if Job can control him.
Job 41 continues God’s exploration of Job’s deficiencies. The entire chapter concerns Leviathan, another unidentified creature. God asks Job if he (or any man) is able to tame Leviathan, and if he isn’t, then how can he presume to question God? The rest of the chapter describes Leviathan’s attributes in poetic terms: his armor, his fiery breath, his strength, his invulnerability in battle, and his speed.
