What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Job 39:18? Setting the Scene Job 39 is God’s own tour of creation, designed to humble Job and showcase the Lord’s absolute rule over every creature. Verse 18 zooms in on the ostrich: “Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at horse and rider.” (Job 39:18) The Ostrich in God’s Classroom • The bird is quirky—incubates eggs in the sand (vv. 14–15) • Lacks the usual wisdom of other birds (v. 17) • Yet can outrun a galloping warhorse (v. 18) This odd blend of weakness and breathtaking speed is no evolutionary accident; it is God’s deliberate design. Snapshots of Sovereignty • God dispenses abilities as He pleases. The ostrich’s speed comes straight from His hand (cf. Psalm 147:10–11). • Human benchmarks are overturned. A creature dismissed as foolish “laughs” at the pinnacle of military power—horse and rider (1 Corinthians 1:27). • The Lord governs both the ordinary and the remarkable. He oversees sand-warm eggs and record-breaking sprints alike (Matthew 10:29). • No one counsels Him. He gives or withholds wisdom (Job 38:36) and talent (Exodus 31:3) without needing approval (Isaiah 40:13–14). Echoes Across Scripture • Psalm 115:3 —“Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” • Isaiah 45:9 —“Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making?’” • Romans 9:20 —“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” • 1 Samuel 2:7 —“The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.” Practical Takeaways • Trust His allocations. Skills, resources, and opportunities are portioned by a flawless King. • Stop measuring God by conventional logic. He loves confounding expectations to display His glory. • Rest in His purposes for your limits and strengths. The ostrich’s “deficiencies” set the stage for its dazzling speed. • Worship, don’t complain. If even an ostrich becomes a lesson in sovereignty, how much more our own lives? Living It Out Remember Job 42:2: “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” The God who makes a flightless bird outrun cavalry can handle every detail of your story—wisely, powerfully, and for His glory. |
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