Job

Job 39: The wild creatures belong to God

Begin in prayer

Before God asks about wild animals, please ask Him to humble our pride in our own abilities.

“As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth.

Genesis 9:9-10

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us marvel at lives and strengths we neither made nor control. Help us see Jesus teaching His disciples to trust their Father’s care. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God asks Job about mountain goats giving birth and young animals growing strong in the open. The wild donkey has a wilderness home, and the wild ox will not serve Job’s farming. The ostrich leaves eggs exposed and treats its young harshly, lacking wisdom God has not given it. Yet it outruns horse and rider. God asks whether Job gave the horse its might and courage for battle. He ends with the hawk’s flight and the eagle’s high nest, distant prey and young feeding on blood.

As you read Job 39, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God assigns wild creatures their abilities and limits, beyond Job’s wisdom or control.

God’s questions show that a creature’s strength does not place it at Job’s disposal. The wild ox is powerful, but Job cannot assume it will stay at his trough or gather his harvest. God gives creatures lives and abilities beyond the work people might choose for them. The ostrich lacks wisdom toward her eggs and young because God has withheld that understanding (verse 17). Yet the same bird has speed that lets her scorn horse and rider. God’s freedom in assigning these different abilities challenges Job’s claim to judge His government. The horse’s strength and courage, the hawk’s flight and the eagle’s high nest likewise do not come from Job. His limited control calls for humble wonder before their Maker.

How does Job 39 show us that God assigns wild creatures their abilities and limits, beyond Job’s wisdom or control?

Wild creatures have lives beyond human service.

The donkey’s wilderness home keeps it away from the driver’s shout. The wild ox’s strength does not mean Job can trust it with his harvest. God’s world includes creatures that will not arrange themselves for our convenience.

Creaturely gifts and limits come from God.

The ostrich is described as lacking wisdom toward its eggs and young. Yet its speed lets it scorn the horse and rider. The contrast shows a creature with particular abilities, not a picture of perfect wisdom in every action.

Job did not give the horse or birds their powers.

The horse meets battle with strength and courage. The hawk spreads its wings, and the eagle nests high and finds prey. God’s questions humble someone who neither gave these abilities nor directs their use.

Memorise

Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?

Job 39:26

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what pride in my own abilities must I confess to Jesus?

God describes creatures with powers and limits that Job neither assigned nor controls. Wild animals do not exist only to serve our plans. Their Creator’s care reaches beyond the parts of the world we can manage.

In Luke 12 verses 22 to 32, Jesus tells His disciples to consider ravens whom God feeds. He teaches them to seek God’s kingdom and depend on their Father. This caring Lord gave His life to save His people from sin. He carried their sins and bore their condemnation at the cross. His completed offering is enough to secure their peace with God. He rose from the dead.

Turn from self-reliance and sin, and trust Jesus. He forgives everyone who depends on Him. His disciples can receive their abilities as gifts and trust the Father who knows their needs.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the animals reveal God’s freedom as Creator, while the ostrich is not a model for treating children. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for giving creatures their lives and distinct abilities, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 1:25

Father, thank You for giving creatures their lives and abilities. Forgive our pride and our assumption that everything must serve our plans. Please lead us to trust Jesus, who gave His life to bring sinners peace with You. Teach us grateful dependence and humble care for Your creatures this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.