April 24, 2009

THE TRue crocodile hunter

Job 41

Mike Mahon
Friday's Devo

April 24, 2009

Friday's Devo

April 24, 2009

Central Truth

A right perspective of fearing the Lord leads to a response of praise, humility, and repentance. A wrong perspective leads to self-sufficient pride or paralyzing fear.

Key Verse | Job 41:10–11

Who is he, then, who can stand before it? (Who has confronted me that I should repay? Everything under heaven belongs to me!) (Job 41:10b-11)

Job 41

1 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew Can you draw out Leviathan 2 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown 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!
3 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew Behold, the hope of a man is false;
    he is laid low even at the sight of him.
10  No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.
    Who then is he who can stand before me?
11  Who has first given to me, that I should repay him?
    Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

12  I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,
    or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.
13  Who can strip off his outer garment?
    Who would come near him with a bridle?
14  Who can open the doors of his face?
    Around his teeth is terror.
15  His back is made of 4 41:15 Or His pride is in his rows of shields,
    shut up closely as with a seal.
16  One is so near to another
    that no air can come between them.
17  They are joined one to another;
    they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18  His sneezings flash forth light,
    and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.
19  Out of his mouth go flaming torches;
    sparks of fire leap forth.
20  Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke,
    as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21  His breath kindles coals,
    and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
22  In his neck abides strength,
    and terror dances before him.
23  The folds of his flesh stick together,
    firmly cast on him and immovable.
24  His heart is hard as a stone,
    hard as the lower millstone.
25  When he raises himself up, the mighty 5 41:25 Or gods are afraid;
    at the crashing they are beside themselves.
26  Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
    nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
27  He counts iron as straw,
    and bronze as rotten wood.
28  The arrow cannot make him flee;
    for him, sling stones are turned to stubble.
29  Clubs are counted as stubble;
    he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
30  His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
    he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31  He makes the deep boil like a pot;
    he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
32  Behind him he leaves a shining wake;
    one would think the deep to be white-haired.
33  On earth there is not his like,
    a creature without fear.
34  He sees everything that is high;
    he is king over all the sons of pride.”

Footnotes

[1] 41:1 Ch 40:25 in Hebrew
[2] 41:1 A large sea animal, exact identity unknown
[3] 41:9 Ch 41:1 in Hebrew
[4] 41:15 Or His pride is in his
[5] 41:25 Or gods

Dive Deeper | Job 41

Have you ever watched a show like The Crocodile Hunter and found yourself thinking, "Crikey! I could totally catch that croc myself, mate." Being the risky adventurer that I am, this happens to me often! But honestly, if I had a face-to-face encounter with a real croc, I'd be petrified!

In Job 41, God uses a crocodile as an illustration to show Job that God is stronger than the mightiest of His creatures, and He is sovereign over everything. In Job 42, we'll see that Job responds appropriately to God's illustration with praise, humility, and repentance in the midst of major personal trials. Through all these trials, Job learns that fear of the Lord doesn't mean to be afraid of Him or disregard Him, but to trust, obey, and respect Him. 

Unfortunately, my response to God's sovereignty is not always like Job's. All too often in the face of my sinful habits and hang-ups, I pridefully think, "I can handle this on my own." Or, in the midst of temptation and trials I become spiritually paralyzed and completely powerless to do the right thing, resulting in great fear and insecurity in my relationship with God and others. Sadly, the first 29 years of my life reflected these two ways of thinking. These sinful response patterns resulted in stress, chaos, and insecurity in my marriage, and bondage to sexual sin that left me feeling far from God.

Thankfully, God is patient toward me. He continually reminds me that my pride and insecurity keep me in denial of my sin. He has shown me time and again that He will bring healing when I work on my struggles openly with Him and others, not on my own. I am learning to trust His Word according to Romans 5:1, that I have been justified and have peace with Him through Jesus Christ. Now, when face-to-face with the "crocodiles" of habits, hang-ups, temptations, and trials, I can walk boldly alongside the True Crocodile Hunter, praising Him for His willingness to change my sinful heart and conform me to the image of His Son.

Discussion Questions

1. Does the thought of God's sovereignty produce praise, humility, and repentance leading you to peace and joy, or does it leave you feeling fearful of God's wrath and cause you spiritual paralysis?

2. What are the "crocodiles" (hurts, habits, and hang-ups) in your life, marked with a prideful, "I can handle this on my own" attitude, that need to be confessed to God and others?

3. Do you know people who have a hard time believing that God is sovereign and good? How can you minister to and walk with them in such a way that you can help them understand that trusting God will bring peace, joy, and healing to their lives?