Beware of Behemoth and Leviathan

Abstract

The book of Job is unique in that it is the only Old Testament book that is wholly dedicated to the problem of suffering – using Job’s suffering as a paradigm. In this respect, there are five viewpoints about suffering (those of Job, his wife, and his three friends) in the prose narrative (1:1–2:13; 42:7–17), and six viewpoints (those of Job, his three friends, Elihu, and God) in the poetic debate (3:1–42:6). Insofar as God’s response is concerned, it is often argued that God has no divine solution to the problem of (Job’s) suffering and has therefore resorted to divine intimation. This essay argues that God does indeed offer a divine perspective of the problem of suffering, and it is to be found in God’s speech about Behemoth and Leviathan (40:15–41:34) – creatures with monstrous power, capable of creating great havoc, which only God can control. Insofar as they are creatures created by God, they are not dangerous or evil in themselves. Bad experiences only occur when humans fail to ignore their potential for evil, thinking that they can fiddle with them and get away scot-free. Suffering, as a result of human disregard, is almost certain, and it has nothing to do with God.