Job 26:12-14
By his power he stilled the sea;
by his understanding he shattered Rahab.
By his wind the heavens were made fair;
his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.
Tag: Those Who Suffer Need to Know God’s Power
In chapter 26, Job is responding to another one of his friends, who have come to “comfort” him. Bildad, in chapter 25, has stated that Job is nothing before God and should not try to justify himself. Note Bildad’s few, but condemning words:
Job 25:5-6
Behold, even the moon is not bright,
and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
how much less man, who is a maggot,
and the son of man, who is a worm!”
Job, already suffering beyond comfort, is now referred to as a “maggot” and a “worm.” These are not the words of a “comforter,” as these three “friends” have claimed to be. Job, in his response to Bildad, remarkable, agrees with Bildad, in one respect: God is awesome. Although Bildad attempted to “put Job in his place,” by exalting the glory of God (seldom a bad thing), Job is in agreement about the character of God. Job does not share Bildad’s characterization of Job’s condition, however. In the response of Job we see that he highlights the power of God:
1. God’s power stills the sea: Job’s tumultuous life is pictured in the torrents of the sea. God, and God alone, can calm Job’s life.
2. God’s understanding (wisdom) shatters Rahab. Rahab, in this instance is the ancient mythological creature Leviathan (we will read more about him in later chapters of Job). Job’s suffering is compared to a giant monster destroying his life, that only the wisdom and understanding of God can explain.
3. God’s breath stills the storm is a reference of God bringing a calm after a storm. We could think of Jesus in the back of the boat and He but speaks and the sea is stopped and calmness fills the air. God is the only one who can do this in Job’s stormy life.
4. God’s hand pierced the serpent. The serpent, in Scripture, is always Satan. Perhaps Job is realizing, at this point, that the “Rahab” (Leviathan) is really satanic oppression in his life. God’s hand can and does remove it.
I all these references, Job is simply stating, God has and does intervene in the lives of those who suffer. Unlike Bildad’s characterization of God (that He sees man as maggots), Job sees God’s power and wonder as a source of strength and calmness in His life. This is how suffering people should see God - and be presented with during their suffering.
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