Now we come to the happy ending of Job’s tale, with an unexpected twist and reversal of positions. Before we get there though, God is not finished with Job, who has doubted and challenged the Almighty. “You have rebuked me. Answer now and correct me.” Job realizes his folly and replies accordingly. He has spoken against God and he was wrong; but, he will not multiply his errors by saying any more. So God speaks again with, perhaps, the ultimate question for all men. “Can you save yourself? Are you more powerful than God? Take his place and show true justice. Show how great and capable you are and God himself will acknowledge your great power.” What a wake-up call to each of us. Of course we cannot save ourselves! Of course we are not above sin or able to escape death! Of coursewe are not holy as God is holy! This is all why Christ was needed, why his death and his resurrection are such an amazing display of the love of God. He did for us what only he was able to do!
To drive home his point with Job, God draws on the example of the Behemoth and the Leviathan. With great detail, he describes both mighty, powerful, large, strong beasts, demonstrating that no man is a match for these. Yet it was God who created them, who can subdue and conquer them. Some believe these to be dinosaurs. Behemoth also seems likely to be a hippopotamus, or some similar animal. Leviathan we have seen before in Job, likely associated with a mythical pagan god, representative of pride as he is shown again here. Leviathan may have also been a real creature, who likeness was used as representative of the pagan god. It is possible he was a real creature; surely God’s description seems to portray a living being – a dinosaur, a dragon (there is more evidence than you might think to support that dragons actually existed at one time), or maybe a crocodile. However we understand these beings, God’s point is proven. Brought to his knees in shame, Job repents for his attitude and words against God. The story ends with vindication. Job is shown to be the righteous man he had claimed, loyal servant of God, loved by his Lord. The other four are rebuked for their grave misunderstanding of God and presumption to speak for him. It is only through Job’s intervention and prayer on their behalf that they are pardoned. What humbling that these who had accused Job of so many things should now have to come to him as their mediator before God! This is almost a picture of Jesus who was humiliated, despised, and dejected yet now stands as the savior and mediator of those who scorned him. The saga ends with satisfying resolution. Job is restored to his place of prominence and blessing. This demonstrates the primary message of the story: faithful followers of God may experience hardship in this life, all of mankind knows the sufferings of this world, but in the end God will restore and bless the righteous who serve him and repent before him. The reward may not be immediate, may not be in this lifetime even, but it is assured.
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AuthorDonovan Campbell, pastor of Greenville Presbyterian Church in Donalds, SC. Archives
June 2020
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