For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Job 40:1-14

1 The Lord said to Job:

2 ‘Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
    Let him who accuses God answer him!’

3 Then Job answered the Lord:

4 ‘I am unworthy – how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer –
    twice, but I will say no more.’

6 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

7 ‘Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

8 ‘Would you discredit my justice?
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9 Do you have an arm like God’s,
    and can your voice thunder like his?
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendour,
    and clothe yourself in honour and majesty.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,
    look at all who are proud and bring them low,
12 look at all who are proud and humble them,
    crush the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together;
    shroud their faces in the grave.
14 Then I myself will admit to you
    that your own right hand can save you.

A. Find Out

1. What does the Lord ask Job and tell him to do? v.2
2. How does Job respond? v.3-5
3. What does the Lord say will next happen? v.7
4. Of what does the Lord accuse him v.8
5. What does He ask him? v.9
6. How does He ask him to prove himself? v.10-13
7. What would the Lord then admit? v.14

B. Think:

1. How do you think Job’s answer is a strictly limited one?
2. How has Job failed in his speeches?
3. How could he possibly put himself on an equal footing with God?

C. Comment:

There comes a pause in the outpouring of questions about Creation and the Lord directly challenges Job about what he has been saying. Yes, by and large he has been right in what he has been saying, but not completely right. He has almost challenged God to correct or accuse Him (v.2).

Now note carefully Job’s response: he simply acknowledges his inadequacy in giving answers; he does not confess his failure (v.4,5) so perhaps this is why the Lord continues (v.6) He continues to demand that Job give Him answers (v.7).

Do you have the same strength as God, and the same power? (v.9). If so then put on the same splendor (v.10) as you do the same things: deal with sinful man (implied v.11) bring the proud down, deal with the wicked (v.12), bring them to death (v.13). If you can do all this then I will recognize your power and strength (v.14) and admit you are worth listening to (implied).

Now of course the truth is that Job cannot do these things. He hasn’t the might and power and glory of the Lord; that is quite obvious. So, yes, this is a very one-sided conversation, but Job needs to realize the folly of his trying to contend with God.

D. Application:

1. We can ask nothing of God but mercy.
2. It is only the foolish man who tries to argue with God.

Passage: Job 40:15-41:11

15 ‘Look at Behemoth,
    which I made along with you
    and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16 What strength it has in its loins,
    what power in the muscles of its belly!
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.
20 The hills bring it their produce,
    and all the wild animals play nearby.
21 Under the lotus plant it lies,
    hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
    the poplars by the stream surround it.
23 A raging river does not alarm it;
    it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
    or trap it and pierce its nose?

1 ‘Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook
    or tie down its tongue with a rope?
2 Can you put a cord through its nose
    or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3 Will it keep begging you for mercy?
    Will it speak to you with gentle words?
4 Will it make an agreement with you
    for you to take it as your slave for life?
5 Can you make a pet of it like a bird
    or put it on a leash for the young women in your house?
6 Will traders barter for it?
    Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7 Can you fill its hide with harpoons
    or its head with fishing spears?
8 If you lay a hand on it,
    you will remember the struggle and never do it again!
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.

A. Find Out

1. What creature does the Lord now ask about? v.15
2. What does He point out about it? v.16-19
3. What picture of it does He portray? v.20-24
4. What creature does He then ask about? v.1
5. What point does he make about it? v.2-10
6. What claim does He eventually make? v.10,11

B. Think:

1. What point does the Lord seem to make about the behemoth?
2. What point is He making about the Leviathan?
3. What final point does He make?

C. Comment:

In the fairly long passage we’ve considered here now, the Lord focuses simply on two beasts, which the footnotes of your Bible suggest are possibly the elephant or hippopotamus and possibly the crocodile.

First the hippopotamus (v.15) if that is what it is. The Lord reminds Job of the immense strength that it has (v.16-18).  Living in days when zoos allow us to go quite close to these creatures, we know the truth of these descriptions, for they are built like a tank! But God can approach them without fear (v.19). He is a creature that lives happily foraging for food (v.20) undisturbed by other animals, resting as his ease (v.21-23) completely secure in his strength. You don’t go trying to catch him easily (v.24).

Then there is the crocodile (v.1) who you also don’t go trying to catch easily (v.2). Oh no, he’s not going to come quietly if you try to catch him (implied by the irony of v.3,4). You’re not going to be able to make a pet of him (v.5) for if you think of catching him you’re in for a tough time (v.6-9). No, the point being made here is that these wild creatures cannot be controlled but they are small in comparison to God, who owns all creatures (v.11), so it is pure folly to think of standing against the might and power of Almighty God (v.10,11) so don’t even think of going there Job!

D. Application:

1. Think on the greatness of God’s creatures – get perspective.
2. Think on God’s greatness, get perspective and worship Him.