God continues 'Will you trust him because his strength is great? Will you leave your labor to him?' asking whether Job would rely on the wild ox for labor if the ox were willing or trustworthy. The personification of trust suggests that even if the wild ox had power, relying on it would be problematic because of its untamed nature. The verse suggests that strength alone does not create trustworthiness or usefulness. The rhetoric seems directed at Job: just because God is strong does not mean Job should trust God's action regarding Job's suffering. Strength and justice are not necessarily the same thing. The verse subtly separates divine power from divine benevolence toward humans. God's strength may be manifest, but whether that strength is exercised toward Job's benefit remains an open question from Job's perspective.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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