RPG Adults
GOD’S LEVIATHAN
TUESDAY, JUNE 21
Job 41
Psalm 145:1-9
The holy God calls
His people to holy living.
GOD’S LEVIATHAN
God continued to speak to Job with regard to His power shown in creation. He now spoke of an animal even more fearsome than the behemoth – the “leviathan” (Job 41:1). The word “leviathan” means “twisted longtailed monster.” At times, it is used to refer to mythical animals. At other times, the context demands a translation of whale or crocodile. From the description here, the gigantic sea-going crocodile could be implied. It was an animal well-known in Egypt and used as a sign of Pharaoh’s power. This animal was dangerous to catch, and, as an adult, impossible to tame. God creates and cares for these great beings while men dare not even touch them.
As God presented to Job a renewed understanding of His majesty and power, Job remained silent. God did not talk to him about his problems. In fact, God would not talk to Job about him until he repented of his sin. As the Psalmist said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps 66:18). The fact that Job had asked for vindication was not sin. In truth, it was evidence of Job’s faith in God, his Redeemer. Job’s problem was that he could only see suffering as being a result of sin. Hence, in asking for vindication, he was actually trying to prove that his suffering was unjust. Job could rightly say he was innocent, but when he claimed God was still punishing him, this was questioning God’s justice and this was sin.
God now had brought Job to a place of repentance and restoration by showing him His greatness. Job had failed to recognise God’s power and justice as it applied to his personal life. Proper Bible doctrine results in proper action. If we really have faith in God and are saved by His grace, this will be reflected in the way we live, think and act. When it is not, there is then the problem of sin which needs to be dealt with before the Lord.
THOUGHT: What does proper doctrine produce?
PRAYER: Father, may my life be holy because Thou art holy.