S) 8 Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle; you will not do it again!
9 "Behold, your expectation is false;
Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?
10 "No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?"
Job 41:8-10 (NASB)
O) The LORD is using one of his most fierce, powerful, terrifying creations to compare to Himself... the crocodile? Verse 1 has a footnote that says, "Leviathan" could be a crocodile. I simply cannot believe that all of the descriptions the LORD uses are referring to a crocodile. Here is a list of some of the attributes of this creature:
- Skin and head repels harpoons and spears (v.7)
- Airtight scales that cannot be separated (vv.16-17)
- Sneezes flash forth light (v.18)
- Breathes fire (vv.19-21)
- Able to raise himself up (v.25)
- Swords, spears, darts, and javelins fail against him (v.26)
- Sharp underparts (v.30)
- Able to look at things that are high (v.34)
(there are other descriptions of the creature in this chapter that could be a crocodile, but not these)
Excepting that vv.31-32 seem to refer to Leviathan being in water, I'd say it could at least swim, if not also simply live in the water, the above descriptions sound like a very typical dragon! If the LORD was going for a terrifying creature, to compare to His awesome nature, would a crocodile really do it? I mean, even among creatures today, the crocodile isn't exactly the most fearsome. People wrestle crocodiles one on one... sure they are deadly, but people still do it successfully. You know what people never survive? Wrestling a wild lion (with the single exception being Samson, who had the Spirit of the LORD upon him). With so many other fierce animals to choose, and with all of the descriptions I listed above, there is no doubt in my mind that God is speaking about a dragon. The thought of fighting a dragon alone is truly terrifying (note v.10 says, "No one..."), and yet, God says no one could stand before Him, if not even able to stand before the might of Leviathan.
A) So, where does this leave me? I think there is a primary goal, in terms of application of these verses. Before I can get there, though, I need to establish an understanding of the aforementioned footnote. I believe there is a very particular reason that my Bible, my holy Christian Bible, the one written for those who already profess faith in the Living God - there is a particular reason that my Bible has this footnote. I do not think it is because there seem to be no dragons left. That is a surface-level explanation. If the Bible's authenticity and transcription (from Hebrew) was primarily done from a secular perspective, I could also see the reason for the footnote. But, why would Christian scholars reduce this majestic being to something so rudimentary? They already believe in what they do not see, so why not believe that Leviathan was real? For the same reason I would: to reduce the majesty of the LORD to something more bearable. If the LORD is compared to a dragon? Forget about it. I don't stand a chance. Even at my most prideful, I could never pit myself alone versus a dragon. With no escape available, I would immediately fall to my knees, eyes closed, and begin praying to meet my maker. In the same circumstances, against a crocodile though? I sort of like my odds. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to fight a crocodile, but I would fight it, if escape were impossible. So, what does that say about my view of the LORD, the Maker of these two creatures? If He is to be compared to a crocodile, maybe I stand a fighter's chance against Him. If He is to be compared to a dragon, I'd better get on my knees and start praying for mercy.
P) Father, Your glory and majesty and might have no accurate comparison. Even in light of a creature, more terrifying than any creature in our known world, Your awesome presence cannot be accurately appreciated. I repent, LORD, for my lingering pride and stiff neck. I am humbled by this chapter of Your words. Even still, I fear that I am not humbled enough. Replace my proud heart, Father, and humble me with Your love, so that I do not have to be humbled by Your power and wrath. Against You, who can possibly stand? There is no hope to encounter You and survive. And then You sent Your Son. I am so in awe of that grace, Father. In view of the gospel, I am tempted to forget Your fearsome nature. I do not want to pervert the grace You have given me, to think more of myself than I ought. Please continue to work within me, replacing my pride with humility. I know You do not change, and You still cannot abide haughtiness. Remind me of this powerful chapter, Father God. Remind me of Your fearsome nature, that I may remain humble. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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