Job 40-42

Chapter 40

Like a domestic abuse victim, Job finally cows to god’s endless intimidation and bullying. And still Yahweh rants on, boasting about his power. He’s really on an ego trip.

Chapter 41

Unbelievably, god spends the whole of chapter 41 describing and bragging about the Leviathan (sea monster), and taunting Job about not being able to tame and control it. WTF? Recently I read that this chapter can be interpreted as a creation myth. Does that help it make sense?

The chapter starts out “Can you catch Leviathan with a hook or put a noose around its jaw? Can you tie it with a rope through the nose or pierce its jaw with a spike?…” Maybe I’ve been spending way too much time reading this stupid book, and it’s making me a little crazy, but you know what that passage reminds me of?

Chapter 42

And the big finale! Job grovels again. God finally appears satisfied that he’s made his point and that Job has been sufficiently humiliated. But he doesn’t apologize for all the trouble, hurt, and hardship he’s caused Job because of his bet. He simply moves on, punishes the 3 friends for doubting, and restores Job’s fortunes.

Yahweh also rewards Job with a second family – off with the old, on with the new! I guess to Yahweh, children are as easily replaceable as socks. Job gets 3 daughters and 7 sons, and the daughters must be something special, because they have names, and are included in his will. “In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job.” (v 15). And from that one line, a whole youth organization was created 100 years ago. That’s nuts! Proof that you can make the bible to mean anything you like.