God continues 'Behold, if the river rages, he is not alarmed; he is confident though Jordan rushes down on him.' This verse describes Behemoth's fearlessness in the face of natural forces. The raging river and rushing Jordan do not alarm Behemoth. The creature is confident and unafraid. The verse suggests that Behemoth's power is such that even mighty natural forces do not disturb the creature. Job is invited to contemplate a creature who is not threatened by the very natural forces that can threaten human beings. The image of confidence in the face of overwhelming natural force raises implicit questions: should Job similarly be unafraid of natural forces and circumstances? Or does Behemoth's fearlessness suggest something troubling: that only the most powerful can afford to be unafraid?

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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