Job 42

We finally made it to the end of Job! Any suggestions as to what you guys want to do next? =)

Verses 1-6:

"Then Job replied to the Lord:

2 “I know that you can do anything,
and no one can stop you.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
things far too wonderful for me.
4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.’
5 I had only heard about you before,
but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
6 I take back everything I said,
and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

Just at the mere sight of God, Job turns to repentance. That's how holy our God is. Whenever we want to enter into His presence or spend time with Him, our actions should reflect and be drawn to an attitude of repentance.

Verse 7-17:

7 "After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.

16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life."

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

Wow, what a conclusion to everything that's happened. Job was more blessed at the end of his life than at the beginning. I also thought it was really cool that Job prayed for his friends forgiveness, despite everything that they did to him. What an example Job provides for us to learn from. I hope you guys enjoyed this book/study, I know I have! Thanks for sticking with it and seeing it through to the end, I know it was a long one! =)

"Father, thank You for Job. Thank You for recording his life in the Bible so we can learn from him. I pray that we would become more like him in his faithfulness to You. Please continue to bless us in our studies online as we move on to our next book. It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen."

Job 41

This chapter contains more of God's challenge to Job.


“Can you catch Leviathan with a hook
or put a noose around its jaw?
2 Can you tie it with a rope through the nose
or pierce its jaw with a spike?
3 Will it beg you for mercy
or implore you for pity?
4 Will it agree to work for you,
to be your slave for life?
5 Can you make it a pet like a bird,
or give it to your little girls to play with?
6 Will merchants try to buy it
to sell it in their shops?
7 Will its hide be hurt by spears
or its head by a harpoon?
8 If you lay a hand on it,
you will certainly remember the battle that follows.
You won’t try that again!
9 No, it is useless to try to capture it.
The hunter who attempts it will be knocked down.
10 And since no one dares to disturb it,
who then can stand up to me?
11 Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?
Everything under heaven is mine.

12 “I want to emphasize Leviathan’s limbs
and its enormous strength and graceful form.
13 Who can strip off its hide,
and who can penetrate its double layer of armor?
14 Who could pry open its jaws?
For its teeth are terrible!
15 Its scales are like rows of shields
tightly sealed together.
16 They are so close together
that no air can get between them.
17 Each scale sticks tight to the next.
They interlock and cannot be penetrated.

18 “When it sneezes, it flashes light!
Its eyes are like the red of dawn.
19 Lightning leaps from its mouth;
flames of fire flash out.
20 Smoke streams from its nostrils
like steam from a pot heated over burning rushes.
21 Its breath would kindle coals,
for flames shoot from its mouth.

22 “The tremendous strength in Leviathan’s neck
strikes terror wherever it goes.
23 Its flesh is hard and firm
and cannot be penetrated.
24 Its heart is hard as rock,
hard as a millstone.
25 When it rises, the mighty are afraid,
gripped by terror.
26 No sword can stop it,
no spear, dart, or javelin.
27 Iron is nothing but straw to that creature,
and bronze is like rotten wood.
28 Arrows cannot make it flee.
Stones shot from a sling are like bits of grass.
29 Clubs are like a blade of grass,
and it laughs at the swish of javelins.
30 Its belly is covered with scales as sharp as glass.
It plows up the ground as it drags through the mud.

31 “Leviathan makes the water boil with its commotion.
It stirs the depths like a pot of ointment.
32 The water glistens in its wake,
making the sea look white.
33 Nothing on earth is its equal,
no other creature so fearless.
34 Of all the creatures, it is the proudest.
It is the king of beasts.”

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

I've never seen a Leviathan before, and I'm not sure it would be 'safe' for me to meet one, but I sure would love to see one. I mean come on! It breathes fire! (Verse 18). What about you guys, haha? =)

"God You are powerful. You are so powerful that You created such a magnificent and powerful beast such as the Leviathan. Though we've never seen one, we've certainly read about it. Father we are so thankful to be loved by a God like You. Thank You for Jesus! It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen."

Job 40

Here we go!

Verses 1-5:

"Then the Lord said to Job,
2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

3 Then Job replied to the Lord,
4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?
I will cover my mouth with my hand.
5 I have said too much already.
I have nothing more to say.”

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

How crazy would it be to have God say all that He has just said and then expect an answer from you? I think I would follow Job's lead here and be like "yup, I'm done." lol.

Verses 6-14:

6 "Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

7 “Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

8 “Will you discredit my justice
and condemn me just to prove you are right?
9 Are you as strong as God?
Can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 All right, put on your glory and splendor,
your honor and majesty.
11 Give vent to your anger.
Let it overflow against the proud.
12 Humiliate the proud with a glance;
walk on the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them in the dust.
Imprison them in the world of the dead.
14 Then even I would praise you,
for your own strength would save you."

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

Wow. God's speaking all of this, to Job, FROM A WHIRLWIND!!!!! CRAZY!!! I couldn't help but reflect back on God's words in verse 14. If Job were able to do all of what God told him to do here, then he would be strong enough to save himself by his own strength. I think you could connect this over with saving oneself from sin and death. These acts that God's telling Job to perform are characteristic of God. If Job were able to do them, he would be God. Therefore, only God could save anyone from any situation, including sin and death. I hope that connection made sense to you guys. If not, just say so. Well, that or just forget what I said, haha. =)

Verses 15-24:

15 “Take a look at Behemoth,
which I made, just as I made you.
It eats grass like an ox.
16 See its powerful loins
and the muscles of its belly.
17 Its tail is as strong as a cedar.
The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze.
Its limbs are bars of iron.
19 It is a prime example of God’s handiwork,
and only its Creator can threaten it.
20 The mountains offer it their best food,
where all the wild animals play.
21 It lies under the lotus plants,
hidden by the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotus plants give it shade
among the willows beside the stream.
23 It is not disturbed by the raging river,
not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it.
24 No one can catch it off guard
or put a ring in its nose and lead it away."

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

I would love to one day meet one of these creatures. Some text footnotes (ex: NIV) might suggest that this animal is an elephant. However that doesn't make any sense to me because of the pure existence of verse 17. An elephant's tail is NOT as strong as a cedar tree! Anyway, this creature has been debated among scholars as to whether it was a real creature or one of ancient mythology. Regardless of which one it turns out to be, both show that God is involved with His creation. If the creature was real, God knows everything that it does and provides for it. He even takes joy in seeing it as a mark of his handiwork. If it turn out to be a mythological creature, this shows that God is deeply entwined with human interaction. He knows what is being talked about and believed, and He even uses these things to teach/prove a point. What do you guys like from this chapter?

"Father thank You for loving us! I thank You that You created heaven and earth and that You didn't leave us alone after You did. I pray that You would fill each of us with Your Spirit so that we can see people as You do. We are not strong enough to change our condition by ourselves or save ourselves. We need You. I pray that we would always crave You and seek to be filled with You on a daily basis. Thank You for Jesus and it's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen."

Job 39

I think it's best from here, continuing from yesterday's post, that we just read what God say here to Job. Chapter 39 in a continuation of God's conversation. This is one of the downfalls about going through Job. A lot of what I would have to say is either already said or is just pulling at stuff. I think biographical books are good, but are difficult to 'pull apart' and dissect. It's usually best to just read it as a whole and then talk about it afterward. =) But don't worry, we're almost done with Job!!! =)



“Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
2 Do you know how many months they carry their young?
Are you aware of the time of their delivery?
3 They crouch down to give birth to their young
and deliver their offspring.
4 Their young grow up in the open fields,
then leave home and never return.

5 “Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Who untied its ropes?
6 I have placed it in the wilderness;
its home is the wasteland.
7 It hates the noise of the city
and has no driver to shout at it.
8 The mountains are its pastureland,
where it searches for every blade of grass.

9 “Will the wild ox consent to being tamed?
Will it spend the night in your stall?
10 Can you hitch a wild ox to a plow?
Will it plow a field for you?
11 Given its strength, can you trust it?
Can you leave and trust the ox to do your work?
12 Can you rely on it to bring home your grain
and deliver it to your threshing floor?

13 “The ostrich flaps her wings grandly,
but they are no match for the feathers of the stork.
14 She lays her eggs on top of the earth,
letting them be warmed in the dust.
15 She doesn’t worry that a foot might crush them
or a wild animal might destroy them.
16 She is harsh toward her young,
as if they were not her own.
She doesn’t care if they die.
17 For God has deprived her of wisdom.
He has given her no understanding.
18 But whenever she jumps up to run,
she passes the swiftest horse with its rider.

19 “Have you given the horse its strength
or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
when it charges out to battle.
22 It laughs at fear and is unafraid.
It does not run from the sword.
23 The arrows rattle against it,
and the spear and javelin flash.
24 It paws the ground fiercely
and rushes forward into battle when the ram’s horn blows.
25 It snorts at the sound of the horn.
It senses the battle in the distance.
It quivers at the captain’s commands and the noise of battle.

26 “Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar
and spread its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle rises
to the heights to make its nest?
28 It lives on the cliffs,
making its home on a distant, rocky crag.
29 From there it hunts its prey,
keeping watch with piercing eyes.
30 Its young gulp down blood.
Where there’s a carcass, there you’ll find it.”

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

"God You are Awesome! I pray that You would teach us from Job's example. May we learn to be content in the situations we find ourselves. I pray for guidance and wisdom in regard to each of life's choices/decisions that we are facing or will face in the near future, and I pray that You would reveal to us what You want us to do. It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen."

Job 38

Now we finally hear from God in this matter. I think it's best that you read what he has to say on the matter. I'm going to try something different for this post. I want you to read through the post and then comment on it with something. I'll comment too, don't worry. I just want to see if this helps engage us better than me talking all the time on here. =)

"Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger?"

(Want a Different Translation? Click Here!)

"God in Heaven You are wise and powerful! Thank You for Your Word! Thank You for loving us. Thank You for saving us! Whenever we question You, please forgive us and strengthen us. I pray for everyone reading this, that You would draw them closer to You. May You speak through this passage to each of us, and remind us again of who You are! Thank You for Jesus! It's in Jesus' name that I pray, amen."