Job 40:15-41:11 (ESV)

“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron.

“He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword! For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade the lotus trees cover him; the willows of the brook surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes, or pierce his nose with a snare?

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again! Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.”

Experts aren’t sure what Behemoths and Leviathans are. Popular guesses include hippopotamuses and crocodiles. But it doesn’t matter; both are animals you wouldn’t want to mess with.

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160108-why-you-should-beware-a-laughing-or-yawning-hippo

The point here is that these animals aren’t fazed by events that would intimidate us.

Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. … Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again!

These are mere created beings, yet they almost seem like gods compared to us. If Job can’t even measure up to some of God’s created beings, where is he in relation to their creator?

This highlights a big problem in America – we worship created things, instead of the creator.

In the past, these were idols made by man – the statues and poles worshipped by pagans. It’s not like that nowadays; it’s worse. Now we worship people.

Think of the people you most admire. They might be great athletes, scientists, or musicians, or very attractive, or even great theologians. Would you just melt if you got to meet them? How crazy is that?

Our culture has turned stars into “American Idols.”

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies