"If you lay a hand on it, you will remember the struggle and never do it again! Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering. No one is fierce enough to rouse it." (Job 41:8-10a, NIV)
The Word of God, Jesus, is speaking here with Job. You will remember He allowed Job and "the four" to go on and on theologizing about Job's predicament, but alas, all to no avail. Neither Job nor they (according to the Word of God) had any answers. They were, in today's vernacular just, "blowing smoke."
Our text is speaking of a huge creature called, "leviathan," a creature with which in those days no one could contend, "No one is fierce enough to rouse it." It seems as though it was God's way of reminding Job that there are things in this life which no one can do, and no one can understand. Now there are people who need "heroes," super saints who are all powerful, can get anyone healed, get you out of poverty, solve all marital problems (you know, like Job's "friends"). But I assure them, there are no such creatures. They might as well stop looking for them and begin, "looking unto Jesus." I have no doubt this is what the Blessed Trinity was saying to Job-------- and "the four."
You will remember Oswald Chambers' great summation of the Book, "Baffled to fight better." Bafflement is good from time to time; it's a good humbler. Someone once said that the reason God told Adam not to take of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was that He wanted Adam to know Who was in charge--- good possibility. Maybe, "Leviathan," is also for such a reason, a reminder of our need and the Only One Who can keep us when there just seems as though there is no "way out," that any "power" in us is useless in "the fight." Wesley said that in Glory we will be "lost in wonder, love, and praise," no mention of "lost in" understanding and answered questions, the pursuit of which the entire Book of Job shows the utter futility. At any rate, the questions any may have now will be forgotten and rendered to absolute insignificance in, "That Day."
Today may be a day when the unanswerable is before you. The "whys" of life may be overwhelming you. I look at the American scene, the international scene and see darkness coming over the land, over the whole earth, people wringing their hands, pundits and politicians trying over and over to come up with answers, all the while life seems to mock, "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
Today may be a day when the unanswerable is before you. The "whys" of life may be overwhelming you. I look at the American scene, the international scene and see darkness coming over the land, over the whole earth, people wringing their hands, pundits and politicians trying over and over to come up with answers, all the while life seems to mock, "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."
Our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, is saying to us today as in Isaiah, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength....Look unto me, and be...saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." And I need, "none else"!
Father, in Jesus' Name, I do today. You are Wonderful Counselor. Amen.
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* Thank all who have indicated they are praying for Shelly and the baby. They are doing well, but I ask that you keep praying with us.
* Each day, while in DC, I will be just outside the White House
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
