God concludes the ostrich passage: 'Yet when she spreads her wings to run, she laughs at the horse and its rider.' This concluding verse suggests that despite the ostrich's apparent deficiency in caring for her young and in flying ability, she possesses a different capacity: the ability to run and to outpace a horse and rider. The ostrich's laughter at the horse suggests a kind of triumph or mockery of what humans would consider superior: a horse that can carry a rider. The verse suggests that the ostrich, despite her apparent deficiencies, possesses capabilities that exceed human-domesticated animals in at least one respect. The verse subtly suggests that divine design is not comprehensible purely from human perspective; creatures that seem deficient in one way may excel in another. The verse also raises implicit questions: if the ostrich's apparent deficiency in maternal behavior is compatible with her excellence in running, might Job's suffering be compatible with some capacity or excellence Job does not yet perceive?

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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