Job 41:1-16: a reflection

1“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook, or press down his tongue with a cord? 2Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook? 3Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you? 4Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever? 5Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls? 6Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants? 7Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears? 8Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more. 9Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won’t one be cast down even at the sight of him? 10None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? 11Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine. 12“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame. 13Who can strip off his outer garment? Who will come within his jaws? 14Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. 15Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal. 16One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.

As God answers Job, he points to Leviathan, a fearsome creature no one can capture, tame, or stand against: Can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook? None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. And then the pointed question: Who then is he who can stand before me? If no one can master even this creature God has made, how much less can anyone contend with God himself, its Maker. The greatness of the creature points beyond itself to the far greater greatness of God, before whom we cannot stand as equals, whose power and greatness far exceed anything we can master or control.

Notice the argument from the creature to the Creator. If a mere creature is beyond our power to capture or tame, so far beyond us that no one dares stir it up, how much more is God beyond our power to master or contend with. Who can stand before God, if no one can stand before what he has made? The greatness of Leviathan is a pointer to the far greater greatness of God, before whom we are small, whose power and majesty exceed anything we can control. The point humbles us: we cannot even master the creatures God has made, and we certainly cannot contend with God himself. His greatness far exceeds our power, and calls us to humility before him.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's greatness far exceeds our power to master or control, and this calls us to humility. We can imagine ourselves able to manage, master, even contend with much, and can forget how small we are before God; but if we cannot master even a creature God has made, how much less can we control or contend with God himself. His greatness far exceeds ours, and the right response is humility. Do not imagine yourself able to master or contend with God, forgetting how small you are before him; his greatness far exceeds your power, as no one can even tame the creatures he has made. Humble yourself before the greatness of God, which far exceeds your power to master or control, as God pointed to Leviathan, whom no one can tame, and asked who then can stand before him; for if we cannot master even a creature God has made, how much less can we contend with God, and his greatness rightly calls us to humility before him.

Lord, as you answer Job, you point to Leviathan, a fearsome creature no one can capture, tame, or stand against: can you draw out Leviathan with a fish hook? None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. And then the pointed question: who then is he who can stand before me? If no one can master even this creature you have made, how much less can anyone contend with you, its Maker. The greatness of the creature points beyond itself to your far greater greatness, before whom we cannot stand as equals. Show me the argument from the creature to the Creator. If a mere creature is beyond our power to capture or tame, so far beyond us that no one dares stir it up, how much more are you beyond our power to master or contend with. Who can stand before you, if no one can stand before what you have made? The greatness of Leviathan is a pointer to your far greater greatness, before whom I am small. The point humbles me: I cannot even master the creatures you have made, and I certainly cannot contend with you. Take that to my heart, for your greatness far exceeds my power to master or control, and this calls me to humility. I can imagine myself able to manage, master, even contend with much, and can forget how small I am before you; but if I cannot master even a creature you have made, how much less can I control or contend with you. Keep me from imagining myself able to master or contend with you, forgetting how small I am before you; your greatness far exceeds my power, Lord. Help me humble myself before your greatness, as you pointed to Leviathan, whom no one can tame, and asked who then can stand before you.