God Of The Monsters

GOD OF THE MONSTERS

Job 40,41

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

1. For the umpteenth time Vickii Youngston went to her pastor to tell him, "I'm so scared! Joe says he's going to kill me if I keep coming to your church!"

2. "Vickii, this is a common trial" replied the pastor, more than a little tired of hearing this over and over. "Many times husbands say things they don’t really mean. Vickii, I’m sort of surprised you don’t have more faith in the Lord! Don’t you believe He will watch over you?"

3. "Yes, Pastor. He’s kept me safe thus far, only....." "Only what?" "Well, now he says if I keep coming to your church, he's going to kill YOU!"

4. "Well," said the Man of faith & power, "That’s a different thing. It’s probably about time you checked out that little church on the other side of town!"

B. MANKIND’S INFATUATION WITH MONSTERS

1. Ancient mariners – feared the giant squids & sea monsters (which explained why ships disappeared).

2. The Greeks and Romans – dreamed up Cyclops and the various offspring of the gods, many of which were monsters.

3. Monster flicks of our time:

a. Frankensteins, Werewolves,

b. Giant Spiders, Ants, etc.

c. King Kong, Godzilla, Sci-Fi Monsters,

d. “Attack of the Giant Woman!”

4. Many other things have been referred to as monsters – hurricanes, larger animals when mad, “monster trucks” and even roller coasters.

5. But did you know that (in the Bible) God even talks about REAL MONSTERS, and relates them to something we have to deal with on a regular basis…

C. TEXT

40:9 “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 15 “Look at Behemoth, which I made along with you…17 Its tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are close-knit. 18 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like rods of iron. 19 It ranks first among the works of God, yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.

41:1“Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? 9 Any hope of subduing it is false; the mere sight of it is overpowering. 10 No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me? 11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me. 15 Its back has rows of shields tightly sealed together; 16 each is so close to the next that no air can pass between. 17 They are joined fast to one another; they cling together and cannot be parted. 18 Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the rays of dawn. 19 Flames stream from its mouth; sparks of fire shoot out. 20 Smoke pours from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning reeds. 21 Its breath sets coals ablaze, and flames dart from its mouth. 22 Strength resides in its neck; dismay goes before it. 24 Its chest is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone. 25 When it rises up, the mighty are terrified; they retreat before its thrashing. 26 The sword that reaches it has no effect, nor does the spear or the dart or the javelin. 27 Iron it treats like straw 29….it laughs at the rattling of the lance. 30 Its undersides are jagged potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge. 31 It makes the depths churn like a boiling caldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment. 32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it…33 Nothing on earth is its equal—a creature without fear. 34 It looks down on all that are haughty; it is king over all that are proud.” Job 41:1, 9-11, 15-34.

D. THESIS

1. Why did God bring up these terrible Monsters? What is God trying to say to Job? We’re going to see that God was actually making an analogy between trials and monsters.

2. So our subject this morning is, “God of the Monsters” and we’re going to see why God allowed such animals to exist on the Earth.

I. JOB’S TERRIBLE TRIALS

A. JOB’S LOSSES

1. Job 1:13-19; “13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”