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Job 39 God's Wisdom and Power

1 “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?

2 Do you count the months till they bear?
Do you know the time they give birth?

3 They crouch down and bring forth their young;
their labor pains are ended.

4 Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds;
they leave and do not return.

5 “Who let the wild donkey go free?
Who untied his ropes?

6 I gave him the wasteland as his home,
the salt flats as his habitat.

7 He laughs at the commotion in the town;
he does not hear a driver’s shout.

8 He ranges the hills for his pasture
and searches for any green thing.

9 “Will the wild ox consent to serve you?
Will he stay by your manger at night?

10 Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness?
Will he till the valleys behind you?

11 Will you rely on him for his great strength?
Will you leave your heavy work to him?

12 Can you trust him to bring in your grain
and gather it to your threshing floor?

13 “The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully,
but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on the ground
and lets them warm in the sand,

15 unmindful that a foot may crush them,
that some wild animal may trample them.

16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers;
she cares not that her labor was in vain,

17 for God did not endow her with wisdom
or give her a share of good sense.

18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run,
she laughs at horse and rider.

19 “Do you give the horse his strength
or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?

20 Do you make him leap like a locust,
striking terror with his proud snorting?

21 He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength,
and charges into the fray.

22 He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing;
he does not shy away from the sword.

23 The quiver rattles against his side,
along with the flashing spear and lance.

24 In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground;
he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.

25 At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, ‘Aha!’
He catches the scent of battle from afar,
the shout of commanders and the battle cry.

26 “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom
and spread his wings toward the south?

27 Does the eagle soar at your command
and build his nest on high?

28 He dwells on a cliff and stays there at night;
a rocky crag is his stronghold.

29 From there he seeks out his food;
his eyes detect it from afar.

30 His young ones feast on blood,
and where the slain are, there is he.”

Previous Chapter Job 38 Next Chapter Job 40

Analysis of Job Chapter 39

Job Chapter 39 is a continuation of God’s response to Job, emphasizing the sovereignty and wisdom of the Creator. The chapter delves into the natural world, illustrating divine providence through the behaviors and characteristics of various animals. Here, God speaks directly to Job, asking him rhetorical questions that highlight human limitations compared to God’s omnipotence and omniscience.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis

Verses 1-4: The Mountain Goats and the Deer

1 “Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?

2 Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth,

3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young?

4 Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open; they go forth and do not return to them.

In these verses, God confronts Job with the mystery of the natural processes of birth and growth among wild animals like mountain goats and deer. God asks if Job knows the intricate moments of birth and development in these creatures, pointing out human ignorance in these matters. The questions underscore the idea that only God orchestrates and understands these events. It reminds us of God’s intimate involvement in creation and His continuous care for all living beings.

Verses 5-8: The Wild Donkey

5 “Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,

6 to whom I have given the arid plain for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place?

7 He scorns the tumult of the city; he hears not the shouts of the driver.

8 He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.

Here, God speaks about the wild donkey, a symbol of freedom and independence, showing how He has created it to thrive in desolate places that are uninhabitable for humans. The wild donkey avoids human civilization and seeks out sustenance in the wilderness, underscoring God’s provision for all His creatures, even in the most barren environments. This passage emphasizes the theme of divine independence and the meticulous care God extends to each aspect of creation.

Verses 9-12: The Wild Ox

9 “Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?

10 Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you?

11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great, and will you leave to him your labor?

12 Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?

The wild ox, known for its immense strength, is presented as another creature beyond human control. God questions Job’s ability to domesticate and utilize the wild ox, highlighting the significant difference in power and capability between humans and God. These verses reinforce the notion that many aspects of the natural world are governed solely by God’s power and cannot be influenced or harnessed by human effort.

Verses 13-18: The Ostrich

13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground,

15 forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them.

16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,

17 because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding.

18 When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.

In these verses, God describes the ostrich, a bird known for its speed but also noted for its unusual parenting behaviors. Despite the apparent neglect of her eggs and young, the ostrich possesses remarkable qualities, such as the ability to outrun a horse. This section highlights the fact that God’s creation includes diverse and seemingly paradoxical characteristics—strength coexists with perceived foolishness. However, these features serve greater purposes within the natural order, known only to God.

Verses 19-25: The Horse

19 “Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?

20 Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying.

21 He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons.

22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.

23 Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin.

24 With fierceness and rage, he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.

25 When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains and the shouting.

In these verses, God vividly describes the warhorse, a creature symbolizing strength, bravery, and valor. The detailed description of the horse’s physical prowess and fearless nature during battle emphasizes God’s hand in endowing such animals with remarkable abilities. The depiction serves as a metaphor for divine power and glory. This passage reflects on the broader theme of divine design and purpose in creating beings with specific attributes that serve distinct roles within the created order.

Verses 26-30: The Hawk and the Eagle

26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?

27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?

28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold.

29 From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.

30 His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.”

In these concluding verses of the chapter, God speaks about the hawk and the eagle, both symbols of keen vision and freedom. The rhetorical questions posed by God to Job emphasize that these birds’ abilities—like soaring high, migrating long distances, and hunting with precision—are not the result of human wisdom but divine ordination. The high nests and sharp eyesight of these birds illustrate God’s provision and meticulous design in nature.

Overall Themes and Reflections

God’s Sovereignty and Wisdom

One of the overarching themes of Job Chapter 39 is the sovereignty and wisdom of God. By questioning Job about the intricacies of the natural world, God highlights the vast gap between human understanding and divine omniscience. The chapter serves as a reminder that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), and it calls for humility in acknowledging our limited perspective.

Divine Provision and Care

Throughout the chapter, God’s questions reflect His intimate knowledge and provision for all creatures. The mountain goats, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks, and eagles all thrive under God’s care. This theme reassures believers of God’s ongoing involvement in sustaining creation.

Human Limitations

Job Chapter 39 underscores human limitations in comprehending and controlling the natural world. By highlighting aspects of nature beyond human reach, God points out Job’s—and by extension, all humanity’s—dependence on divine wisdom and governance.

Diversity of Creation

The chapter also celebrates the diversity and complexity of God’s creation. Each creature, from the mountain goat to the eagle, has unique traits and behaviors that serve specific roles within the ecosystem. This diversity reflects the beauty and intricacy of divine craftsmanship.

A Call to Trust

Implicit in God’s discourse is a call for Job—and through him, all readers—to trust in God’s wisdom and goodness. Despite the suffering and unanswered questions that Job faces, the chapter encourages a posture of faith and reliance on God’s character and providence.

Conclusion

Job Chapter 39 is a powerful testament to the grandeur, wisdom, and sovereignty of God. By directing Job’s attention to the marvels of the natural world, God invites Job to recognize the limitations of human understanding and to trust in the Creator’s infinite wisdom and care. The chapter offers profound insights into the character of God and His relationship with creation, encouraging believers to find solace and trust in God’s meticulous governance of the universe.