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Job 41 … Consider Him, Unmatched

The Planting Place
Originally posted: 9/16/2020

“…Who then is he that can stand before Me?
11 “Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine,” (41:10-11).

Did you hear His challenge? Almost as if to say, “Job, can you, or anyone else for that matter, Match Me… in anything?”

“Who then is he that can stand before Me?”

The Lord continues questioning Job. It seems that Job, who had so longed for his opportunity to have a meeting with the Almighty, and not just a meeting, but a chance to argue his case, finally has his day in court.

“But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to argue with God,” (Job 13:3).

“Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4 “I would present my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments,” (Job 23:3-4).

And now, when he found himself with the chance to answer, he’s left without one single argument.

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said,
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 “Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more,” (Job 40:2-5).

But the Lord, definitely presents His case before Job, presenting as evidence His creation, bringing to Job’s attention two of His most powerful creatures: the Behemoth and the Leviathan.

“Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you;
He eats grass like an ox.
16 “Behold now, his strength in his loins
And his power in the muscles of his belly…
24 “Can anyone capture him when he is on watch,
With barbs can anyone pierce his nose?” (Job 40:15-16, 24).

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 “Can you put a rope in his nose
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?…
10 “No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?” (41:1-2, 10).

There is some debate as to what these creatures actually were. Many believe the Behemoth was either a hippopotamus or elephant; and the Leviathan was possibly a crocodile or whale. Some have proposed the Behemoth to be some kind of prehistoric dinosaur (“He is the first of the ways of God…” Job 40:19); while the Leviathan to be a fire-breathing dragon (“His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes forth from his mouth…” 41:18-21).

Whatever these creatures were, what is not up for debate is that both were presented through poetic imagery as fiercely powerful; but not when compared to God.

And while no human would dare to take on either of these creatures with bare hands, neither the Behemoth or the Leviathan are a match for Almighty God; for there is no part of His creation that is on His level.

And as God expounds on the unrivaled strength of these two creatures, unable to be subdued by mere man, we can hear His inference: Job, you see their power and might; I made them! And with Job, we come face to face with His Truth: there is none who is His equal; there is none who can compare; He is Unmatched

Consider Him, Unmatched

Every attribute of God is Unmatched.

“To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?” (Isaiah 46:5).

(The following Scriptures offer just a few examples. We could be here for days if we attempted an exhaustive search):

How do we respond to Him, Unmatched?

I thought about poor Job, who probably felt himself grow smaller with each word that proceeded out of the mouth of Him, Unmatched. And perhaps that is the most appropriate response we can have. When we get just the slightest glimpse of Him as He is, how can we not see ourselves, see how insignificant we really are? And how can we not be amazed; how can we not be in complete awe of Him, Unmatched?

And may we never get over His Unmatched Love. He loves us, so much so that He gave us His Gift, Unmatched; His Only Begotten Son.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

Today, let’s just be amazed. Perhaps we might spend time reading back through the Scriptures above and speaking them back in worship to Him, Unmatched.

As we consider Him, and see Him, Unmatched in creation and in His Word, let us respond in giving Him the honor and glory that He alone is worthy to receive.

“O may Your glorious name be blessed
And exalted above all blessing and praise!
6 “You alone are the Lord.
You have made the heavens,
The heaven of heavens with all their host,
The earth and all that is on it,
The seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them
And the heavenly host bows down before You,” (Nehemiah 9:5-6).

He is Unmatched in His greatness, His acts and the glorious splendor of His majesty. Let us choose to come into His presence daily, to meditate on all His wonderful ways and works, that we would overflow with praise, unable to stop ourselves from declaring the praises of Him, Unmatched.

Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate, (Psalm 145:3-5).

Let’s Grow Together!

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