The Job of God

In the Lord's speech to Job, God unloads His immense job description for four chapters. And when you read it, you quickly realize, it's a job only GOD is big enough for. 

Job 38:39–39:4 (ESV) “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? 41 Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food? 1 “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? 2 Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, 3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? 4 Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them.

After unpacking how the cosmos works at the direction of God, the Lord talks about the animal kingdom. In some ways, you are seeing God address creation here in the order of creation from Genesis 1. The heavens and the Earth are created, then light, then the expanse, the land, and the seas. Then God fills the expanse with stars and the land with animals. 

What's astounding in this passage here is that God does not simply just "start" creation like a wind-up clock and walk away. He's actively involved in creation daily, hour by hour, watching over the entire thing with precise direction.

So often when we suffer we immediately believe God has missed something. We may suppose He is absent from the job and missing His assignment to protect and care for us. But He is not! The Lord spends a great deal of time affirming this reality clearly in Job 39. He has a watchful eye on all the living things He has created. 

God illustrates his attention to detail by drawing out the details of several animals specifically.

First He speaks of the lions and their food:

Job 38:39 (ESV) “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

Second He speaks of the mountain goats:

Job 39:1 (ESV) “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?

Third, the wild donkey:

Job 39:5 (ESV) “Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

Fourth, the wild ox:

Job 39:9 (ESV) “Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?

Fifth, the ostrich:

Job 39:13 (ESV) “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

Six, the horse:

Job 39:19 (ESV) “Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

And finally, number 7, the hawk:

Job 39:26 (ESV) “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?

Seven creatures are mentioned to fulfill the whole picture of the animal kingdom. And it also illustrates the perfect and complete care of God. He cares for and oversees our lives in all areas even when we suffer and struggle. 

You are being watched over right now. Believe and receive it.