Job 41 - Leviathan

LINK: Job 41

by Katrina

BACKGROUND
God continues to demonstrate his power over creation by describing creatures that man could not tame or control. This entire chapter is devoted to a creature known as Leviathan.

Some say that Leviathan is a mythical creature. If that were the case, then God demonstrating to Job his power over Leviathan is pointless. So, what was Leviathan?

Many say Leviathan is the crocodile, but does the crocodile really fit the description of Leviathan? Let's look at God's description in this chapter -- Leviathan was a fierce creature with mighty strength. It had scales like armor and very strong neck and limbs. He could breathe fire and stirred up the sea like boiling water with his writhing. No one was able to capture or kill him. Nothing else on earth could compare to Leviathan in strength or fierceness.

Probably, of the creatures alive today, the crocodile comes closest to this description. However, the crocodile doesn't live out in the sea and isn't as intimidating as the creature described in Job 41. Job lived in the first 100-200 years after the flood, and it could be that Leviathan was a real creature at that time, but is now extinct.

If you are interested in reading further on this topic, here's an article from Answers in Genesis.

PRAYER
Lord, you rule over all creation because you made it and it is yours. Yet you make yourself known to us and allow us to come into your presence. What an awesome God you are! We praise and honor you above all. And thank you for reconciling us to you through Jesus. Amen.