Job 39
In Job 39, God continues to speak to Elihu. As God continues, the questions become more focused on nature; however, the ultimate answer is the same. Elihu does not respond, nor is it clear that he is even present. For Elihu to directly answer would only cause him to fall further. God is not looking for an answer; He knows the answer. We should all know the appropriate answer at this point. God is looking for a response from Elihu. It the same response that God desires from all of us. Micah stated simply in Micah 6:8.
8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
God wants us to exercise judgment in all things we do. Not just right or wrong, but the judgment that delivers and redeems others. We are to love mercy, it should be a part of our very nature. Mercy to have compassion; kindness to show empathy for others. Finally, we are to walk with God in humility. We should never think that we are equal to God or that we could speak in God’s stead. It would be a great reproach to ever think we could possibly be of great value to God. Elihu failed on all three accounts. God knows this and God knows Elihu’s heart.
Job 39:1-12
1Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? 2Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? 3They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. 4Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them. 5Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? 6Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. 7He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. 8The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. 9Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 10Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? 11Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 12Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?
The above may be in response to Elihu’s statement in Job 37:8.
8Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
Elihu had made claims of possessing wisdom; however, he did not understand the full impact. God goes into detail concerning the complexity of the animals. We as humans could spend a lifetime and only be knowledgeable of just a few animals. God is telling us that there is so much more to know. We should never be overly confident of our knowledge. There is still much to learn and much that will not be known in this lifetime.
Elihu knew very little of what he was talking about. He made declarations to impress the unknowing and those easily influenced. Unfortunately, that includes most people. Many would rather follow the crowd than walk with God.
What follows is a series of pointed questions. This is to reinforce that Elihu had no part in creation and his supposed wisdom and knowledge was lacking, Job 39:13-18.
13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? 14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, 15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. 16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear; 17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. 18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
God stated that the ostrich is deprived of wisdom and understanding. We as human are not deprived, yet we are not born with wisdom and understanding either. It is upon us to pursue wisdom and understanding. It will take a lifetime to do so. However, when an individual treats another without justice and mercy, when they fail to walk humbly with God, they are no better than the animals. When one does not care for others as they should, then they have not guarded the children of their own race. Elihu failed to do these things. Elihu’s disregard for who he was hurting, was no different than the ostrich, thereby making Elihu no better that a wild beast.
God asks Elihu what have you done in Job 39:19-25.
19Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? 20Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. 21He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. 22He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. 23The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. 24He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. 25He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Of course Elihu did none of these things. The question now becomes, you have done none of these, what made you think that you could take My name in vain as you did? Why did you think you could speak for me? Why did you not show justice to my servant Job? Elihu had interfered in a situation in which he had no business getting involved.
Job 39:26-30
26Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? 27Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? 28She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. 29From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. 30Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.
God speaks of the hawk and the eagle that are filled with the wisdom as He chooses. Mankind may be able to tame one, but these birds are forever instilled with God-given wisdom and instinct. Such are God’s purposes. Job served a purpose God had set forth, Elihu was counter to that purpose.
God’s final word on the eagle is similar to what is stated in Matthew 24:28.
28For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
This is not literal; this has deep meaning. The eagle is both a hunter and a scavenger. Eagles fly above the other birds and when they see what they want, they can fly down clear the other birds away and take the carcase. Eagles know when others do not, because they are patient, fly higher and they can see further. Such are those that know of God. Isaiah stated in Isaiah 40:27
27Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
When Yeshua spoke in Matthew 24, he was prophesying that in the future many would doubt His return. Even today there are many believers that doubt Yeshua’s return. If they did not doubt, they would take their Christian life much more serious and it would be paramount above all other things. Yeshua has forewarned of these times. Yeshua spoke of the eagle to draw our attention to Isaiah 40:28-31.
28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
We are to be like the eagle of Isaiah 40. Those that wait on the Lord, He will strengthen those that are weary. We are not to be deceived. We are to have peace from on high and be confident of His return. We are to hold to the teachings of Yeshua. We are to live by scriptures that will make us confident of His return. If need be, we are to be like the eagle. We do not necessarily fly with the flock, we are to fly high above the earth in God’s wisdom.
In stating this, God is telling Elihu, you are not the eagle of God. You have flown with the flock, you come from low places and will become the carrion of others in the end.
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