Job 41
Following on His description of Behemoth in Job 40:15-24, God presents Leviathan for Job’s consideration. Neither Behemoth nor Leviathan can be identified as any currently existing animal. Some have proposed the hippopotamus for Behemoth and the crocodile for Leviathan. However, barring excessive poetic license by God, the descriptions in Job clearly do not fit those animals — or any other nonextinct species. Hence, others have suggested dinosaurs or even mythical monsters. (Frankly, Godzilla seems like a pretty good fit for Leviathan to me!) Ultimately, it does not really matter what particular creatures Behemoth and Leviathan might be. What matters is that Job knows what God is talking about. And if Job cannot control either of these creatures, he has no business challenging their Creator.
I find it interesting that in His entire discourse, God has not spent much time speaking directly about Himself. Instead, He has put Creation on display as sufficient evidence to make His point. Of course, we (and Job) are part of that Creation, and although we are made in God’s image and He gave us dominion over the earth, we are nonetheless small — even miniscule — in relation to some other parts of Creation. In physical strength, we are no match for Behemoth or Leviathan (or any number of other animals). In scale, the whole earth is but a speck in the universe — much less any one of us! We would do well, therefore, to ponder creation, and from it to learn to worship our Creator. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. (Ps. 19:1) The heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge! (Ps. 50:6) For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. (Rom. 1:20) Yes, let’s take a good look at Creation and marvel at our awesome God!