Job 40 could be outlined:
Job Humbles Himself Before God (Job 40:1-5)
The Lord Reasons With Job (Job 40:6-14)
God’s Creative Wisdom Shown In The Behemoth (Job 40:15-24)
God continues to speak to Job. He asks Job one more question at this point – Job will respond with a short answer at this point.
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: 2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it." 3 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 4 "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further." Job 40:1-5 (NKJV)
JOB HUMBLES HIMSELF BEFORE GOD
God asks Job one question in this section:
“Job since you have already found me guilty – will you teach Me what is right? Go ahead and speak up – give me an answer.”
Job does speak up – he says:
“I am unclean. I am vile. How can I answer You? I will shut my mouth. I will keep my lips still. I will lay my hand over my mouth. I have spoken – but now I can not speak. Yes – I have spoken more than twice – yet I will speak no further.”
Isaiah when he walked into the presence of God said:
"Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts." Isaiah 6:5 (NKJV)
Job in verses four and five has pretty much said the same thing.
After Job responds the debate continues.
6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 7 "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: 8 "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? 9 Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? 10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty. 11 Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. 12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness. 14 Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you. Job 40:6-14 (NKJV)
THE LORD REASONS WITH JOB
After God has allowed Job to give an answer – God continues:
“Job stand up and act like a man – I am going to question you and you will give me an answer.”
God now asks Job four questions:
1. Job would you count my judgments as useless?
2. Job are you telling me that you are right and I am wrong?
3. Job are you as powerful as God?
4. Job is your voice louder than the thunder clap?
If any of these statements are true – than God instructs Job to:
1. Job put on majesty and splendor.
2. Job clothe yourself with glory and beauty.
3. Job show the power of your wrath.
4. Job humble all of those who are proud.
5. Job send forth justice on the wicked.
6. Job place the wicked in lowly places together.
7. Job bind the wicked in darkness.
Then God says:
“Job if you can do all these things – I will confess to you – that you are right and I was wrong. Job if you can do all these things – then I will admit to you that you are justified in all the things you have said.”
Of course Job – as is the case of any man – is not justified by his own actions – that is the reason that we all need a Savior.
15 "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles. 17 He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. 18 His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. 19 He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword. 20 Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. 21 He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. 22 The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. 23 Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, 24 Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare. Job 40:15-24 (NKJV)
GOD’S CREATIVE WISDOM SHOWN IN THE BEHEMOTH
In verse fifteen Job is told to consider the behemoth. God reminds Job that both the behemoth and Job himself were a creation of God. God has designed each creature with its own unique abilities and attributes. Some commentaries consider the behemoth to be a hippopotamus. God will now tell Job the special attributes and abilities of the behemoth:
1. The behemoth eats grass like the ox.
2. The behemoth has power in his hips and strength in its stomach muscles.
3. The behemoth wags its tail easily even though it is like a cedar tree.
4. The behemoth’s muscles are tightly knit together.
5. The behemoth’s bones are like beams of bronze.
6. The behemoth’s ribs are like iron bars.
7. The behemoth is My (God’s) creation – only I can stand near him and not fear.
8. The behemoth’s pasture is the mountains – where all My creature play.
9. The behemoth lives in the marsh among the reeds – in the marsh – lying under the lotus tree.
10. The behemoth lives among the willows and water surrounds him.
11. The behemoth is not disturbed when the rivers rage.
12. The behemoth does not get upset in flood season – even though he sees it all.
Then God asks:
“Can anyone capture him? Can anyone pierce its nose and put a ring in it – to walk it down the street? Do you Job have the power to do this?”
I have seen oxen who have been tamed – huge animals – with mighty power – under the control of man. Some have even had rings put in their noses – and are easily led around. But who of us would want to put a nose ring in a crocodile and try to lead it down the street? Who of us would want to grab hold of a hippo and take it for a walk around the block? Have you ever tried to make a wild animal subject to our will? Job do you have the power and ability to do this?
In the next chapter God will question Job about his power over the leviathan.
