At first glance it may seem that God is merely demonstrating His power to Job. And in demonstrating it, He says: can you do that? No? Then do not meddle in what is not your business. In fact, however, everything is not so simple. Job is already, in essence, ready...
At first glance it may seem that God is merely demonstrating His power to Job. And in demonstrating it, He says: can you do that? No? Then do not meddle in what is not your business. In fact, however, everything is not so simple. Job is already, in essence, ready to humble himself for real, to acknowledge God's complete authority over him and His absolute sovereignty in the world. This is no longer religiosity; it is real acceptance of the authority over oneself of the real God who enters a person's life.
The true path of righteousness begins with such complete and unconditional surrender of oneself to God. And Job is finally ready to take the first step on this path. He refuses to answer not because he has become afraid of God in the way a person may be afraid of someone infinitely stronger than himself. He has simply understood that a person has nothing to say to God. Of course, communion between a person and God is entirely possible. But not the kind Job was seeking and wanted.
He wanted to meet God in order to inform Him of his righteousness. To tell Him that he, Job, had not received from Him, from the God on whom he had so hoped, the expected reward. He wanted to remind God of the rules of the game. But it turned out that God does not need to be reminded of anything. Not because God knows the rules by which people play. And not even because God Himself establishes those rules. It is because God does not play human games at all. He solves His own tasks, and they are far larger than anything people can tell Him about.
God is ready to commune with a person, but about what is real, not about games invented by people. Even if they are religious games and God is the chief figure in them. Righteousness won in such a game remains toy righteousness. And Job seems already to be beginning to understand this. But the question of evil in the world is by no means a toy question. It is completely real. And very real. So what then? What is to be done with it? Is there an answer? God appears not to give an answer. But only appears so. Yes, the picture of a grazing Behemoth seems, at first glance, to have nothing to do with the matter.
But Behemoth is only the occasion. A starting point for awareness. And this awareness is connected with the understanding that there is no force in the world that is not subject to God. He truly is King. Sovereign. The absolute Monarch of the universe. And its supreme Judge. He knows what to do with the wicked and with all the evil of the world in general. And if a person can know anything about this, it is no more than he knows about the strength of Behemoth. A person has no more chance of solving the problem of evil in the world than of moving that very Behemoth from the place where it lies. The image is impressive and entirely clear.
39 The more fully to convince Job of his ignorance, God here discourses, Of the wild goats and hinds, Job 39:1-4.
Of the wild ass, Job 39:5-8.
Of the unicorn, Job 39:9-12.
Of the peacock and ostrich, Job 39:13-18.
Of the horse, Job 39:19-25.
Of the hawk and eagle, Job 39:26-30.
39:19 Thunder - A strong metaphor, to denote force and terror.
39:21 Valley - Battles used to be pitched in valleys, or low grounds, especially horse battles.
39:23 Quiver - The quiver is here put for the arrows contained in it, which being shot against the horse and rider, make a rattling noise.
39:24 Swalloweth - He is so full of rage and fury, that he not only champs his bridle, but is ready to tear and devour the very ground on which he goes. Believeth - He is so pleased with the approach of the battle, and the sound of the trumpet calling to it, that he can scarce believe his ears for gladness.
39:25 Ha, ha - An expression of joy and alacrity declared by his proud neighings. Thunder - The loud and joyful clamour begun by the commanders, and followed by the soldiers when they are ready to join battle.
39:26 Fly - So strongly, constantly, unweariedly, and swiftly.South - At the approach of winter, when wild hawks fly into warmer countries, as being impatient of cold. The birds of the air are proofs of the wonderful providence of God, as well as the beasts of the earth. God instances in two stately ones.
39:27 Mount - Flies directly upward 'till she be out of thy sight; which no other bird can do.
39:29 Her eyes - Her sight is exceeding sharp and strong, so that she is able to look upon the sun with open eyes, and to behold the smallest prey upon the earth or sea, when she is mounted out of our sight.
39:30 Blood - There are divers eagles who do not feed upon carcases, but many eagles do feed on them. She - In an instant, flying thither with admirable celerity.