God Himself virtually ends the Book of Job!

The Book actually begins with God talking … and ends that way as well!

(Some day I’d like to preach Job chapters 38-42, all GOD had to say in His great, unsurpassed Sermon! Inquisition, with nearly 80 different questions! His Theology Lesson, that’s for sure!)

And God here concludes with (large blocks of data) a consideration of two animals. Behemoth (Wednesday’s Lesson) and Leviathan.

Both, I believe, are literal creatures, but perhaps now extinct. (After the world-wide Flood during the life of Noah, many animals eventually became extinct, disappeared from the face of the earth. Probably due to changes in the atmosphere, weather patterns and temperatures and the resultant plant growth.)

Leviathan occupies most of chapter 41, that alone being an astounding fact. Behemoth only about half a chapter. We’re going from strong to stronger, I think.

And both entities are pictured, looks to me, as “confrontational.”

They are symbols of evil, folks, of rebellion, of wildness! They represent the “devil” (called “the Satan” in Job) who has so opposed our little “hero,” Job the servant of the Lord.

Even with Leviathan (an apparent sea creature as opposed to Behemoth’s being as land creature) we see “hints” of monstrous anarchy.

In fact, he is humanly “untamable!” That’s the emphasis with which God begins: “Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? Or bore his jaw through with a thorn?” Job 41:1-2

God to Job, “One cannot ‘play’ with such evil.” Verse 5: “Wilt thou play with him as with a bird?” Dangerous, he is, deadly.

Seemingly impenetrable, Job 41:7 here … “Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?” No harpoons will be effective here, overcoming this thing will require supernatural power!

Somehow Job’s godliness had “stirred up” the devil, re-read chapter 1 of Job if necessary. Then compare God’s Words: “None is so fierce that dare stir him up.” Leviathan, still. As if to say, “He has come after you, Job!”

But then look: “Who hath prevented Me, that I SHOULD REPAY HIM? Whatsoever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” God will defeat Job’s arch-enemy! Stay faithful, Job (“patient” might be a better word) … God is going to give you the victory, soon now!

Leviathan is associated in the chapter with “PRIDE” too. Just like the devil, agree? “His scales are his pride.” Some sort of ancient sea monster is being described.

His “sneezes” literally emit “light!” (Remember, Lucifer means “light!”) Job 41:18 … “By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.” Surely no animal like this is swimming in your neighborhood pond!

Fire, too! “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.” Job 41:19-21, fire as in “Hell?”

Now hard-hearted! Self assertive, “lifting up himself,” satanic to the core. “His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone. When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.” Job 41:24-25

Job, you’re no match for him. “The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.” Job 41:26 Also … “The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.“

The chapter even closes, still Leviathan: “Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high things: he is a KING over all the children of PRIDE.” See that? “King of the children of pride,” the Devil is the antitype of this animal, surely.

But again, God in mid-chapter, says: “I CAN HANDLE HIM. I CAN ‘REPAY’ HIM FOR THE ERROR OF HIS WAYS. FOR ‘TOUCHING’ MY SERVANT JOB, FOR FALSELY ACCUSING HIM.”

I think Job was plenty wise enough to get the Message!

And soon now, Job will be vindicated and doubly rewarded!

And the Satan, the Devil, the Behemoth-Leviathan of history … will be shamed no end!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell