The Introduction of Behemoth

INTRODUCTION: As God continues to confront Job with His greatness, Job makes his first feeble answer: “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee?” (Job 40:4). God then asks Job if he has the abilities and powers of God. God closes this chapter with a description of behemoth as the chief of the ways of God.

1. THE ANSWER OF JOB (Job 40:1-5)
1. The Answer of God (Job 40:1-2)
1. The Lord answered Job (Job 40:1; Job 23:5; Job 31:35).
2. The Lord questioned Job (Job 40:2).
1. Can you instruct the Almighty? (Isaiah 45:9; Romans 11:33-34)
2. You feel capable of reproving God (Job 33:12-13).
3. Now answer the question.
2. The Response of Job (Job 40:3-5)
1. I am vile (Job 40:4; Philippians 3:21).
1. Abraham (Genesis 18:27)
2. Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5)
3. Daniel (Daniel 10:8)
4. Peter (Luke 5:8)
2. What shall I answer? (Job 40:4)
3. I will not answer (Job 40:4-5; Job 9:3, 14-15, 32; Job 23:1-5).
1. I will lay mine hand upon my mouth (Job 40:4).
2. I have spoken, but will speak no more (Job 40:5).
1. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer.
2. Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
2. THE CHALLENGE TO JOB (Job 40:6-14)
1. The Challenge of Jobs Righteousness (Job 40:6-8)
1. The Lord spoke out of the whirlwind (Job 40:6; Job 38:1; Isaiah 66:15; Jeremiah 23:19; Jeremiah 30:23; Ezekiel 1:4; Nahum 1:3).
2. God told Job to gird up his loins like a man (Job 40:7; Job 38:3; Jeremiah 1:17).
1. I will demand of thee.
2. Declare thou unto me.
3. God asked Job about His righteousness (Job 40:8).
1. Will you disannul my judgment? (Isaiah 14:27)
2. Will you condemn me to be righteous? (Job 27:5-6; Job 32:2; Job 35:2)
2. The Challenge of Jobs Glory (Job 40:9-10)
1. Does he have an arm like God? (Job 40:9; Psalm 89:13); Note: Several places in scripture indicate that the arm of the Lord is none other than Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:1; John 12:38). However, it is possible that every mention of Gods arm is not a direct reference to Christ.
2. Does he have a voice like God? (Job 40:9; Psalm 18:13; Revelation 1:15; Revelation 14:2)
3. Does he demonstrate the glory and beauty of God? (Job 40:10); Note: The Lord challenged Job to deck and adorn himself as God is adorned.
1. The origin of appearance
1. Gods challenge to Job
1. Deck thyself.
2. Array thyself.
2. God challenged Job in this manner because God is able to deck and array Himself in this fashion.
2. The nature of appearance
1. Gods challenge to Job.
1. Majesty
2. Excellency
3. Glory
4. Beauty
2. God challenged Job in this manner because God is clothed in this fashion.
3. The Challenge of Jobs Ability in Judgment (Job 40:11-14)
1. God challenged Jobs authority and ability in judgment (Job 40:11-13).
1. Cast abroad the rage of your wrath (Job 40:11; Deuteronomy 32:22).
2. Behold every one that is proud (Job 40:11; Proverbs 15:3).
3. Abase those who are proud (Job 40:11; Isaiah 2:11-12).
4. Put the proud and the wicked in their place (Job 40:12).
5. Hide them in the dust (Job 40:13; Psalm 49:14).
6. Bind their faces in secret (Job 40:13).
2. Gods response if Job proved successful (Job 40:14).
1. Then will I confess unto thee
2. That thine own right hand can save thee
3. Note: The point of this challenge was to prove Gods ability and Jobs inability.
3. THE ILLUSTRATION OF BEHEMOTH (Job 40:15-24)
1. His Diet (Job 40:15)
1. Made with man: indicates an earthly creature made on the sixth day of creation, or at least that he coexisted with man (Genesis 1:24-27)
2. Eats grass like the ox (Psalm 104:14)
2. His Strength (Job 40:16-18)
1. His strength is in his loins (Job 40:16).
2. His force is in the navel of his belly (Job 40:16).
3. He moves his tail like a cedar (Job 40:17); this indicates a large tail, like that of a tree.
4. The sinews of his stones are wrapped together (Job 40:17); stones could be exterior plated armor.
5. His bones are as strong as (Job 40:18)
1. Pieces of brass
2. Bars of iron
6. Note: this describes a massive and powerful animal. Spiritually, it could refer to the temporal power of the antichrist (see Daniel 11:36-45).
3. His Greatness (Job 40:19-20)
1. The chief of the ways of God (Job 40:19)
2. Only his Creator is powerful enough to kill him (Job 40:19).
3. The mountains, where all the beasts of the field play, bring him food (Job 40:20).
4. His Rest (Job 40:21-22)
1. He lies under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens (Job 40:21).
2. He rests in the shadow of the trees (Job 40:22).
5. His Thirst (Job 40:23)
1. He drinks as if he would drink a river.
2. He drinks slowly.
6. His Fierceness (Job 40:24)
1. His fierce eyes attack his prey.
2. His nose breaks through traps laid for him.

CONCLUSION: Once again, Job has an opportunity to stand before God and give his complaint, but in the presence of God, Job determines to lay his hand upon his mouth. In Job’s silence, God expounds upon His own power and glory.