What is the meaning of Job 39:15? She forgets “ She forgets that a foot may crush them…” (Job 39:15) • God has just described the ostrich laying her eggs in the sand (Job 39:13-14). In His own words, she then “forgets.” • The point is not memory loss but utter indifference. The ostrich shows no anxiety for the future of her offspring; she simply walks away. • God draws a sharp contrast between His perfect wisdom and the limited instinct of His creatures. Where humans fret over provision, He points to the bird that “does not sow or reap… yet your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). • Scripture often highlights forgetfulness as reckless (Proverbs 27:12), but here it underlines the different design God has granted to various creatures (Job 39:17). Cross references woven in: Job 39:13-17; Isaiah 1:3 (animals that do remember their owner); Matthew 6:26. that a foot may crush them “…that a foot may crush them…” (Job 39:15) • Eggs lying exposed on a path can be stepped on by humans, livestock, or even the ostrich herself. • The imagery illustrates vulnerability—life resting on sand, one careless step away from destruction. • Scripture frequently uses crushed underfoot to picture fragility (Lamentations 3:34-36) and judgment (Luke 8:5). • Yet the scene also showcases God’s sustaining hand: in spite of such odds, ostriches survive and flourish because “the earth is full of the LORD’s loving devotion” (Psalm 33:5). Cross references woven in: Lamentations 3:34-36; Psalm 33:5; Luke 8:5. or a wild animal may trample them “…or a wild animal may trample them.” (Job 39:15) • Beyond accidental crushing, predators and large beasts pose an intentional threat. • The word picture broadens the risk, reminding us that creation groans under violence (Romans 8:20-22). • Even here, God rules. He feeds lions (Job 38:39-41) and orchestrates every creature’s lifecycle (Psalm 104:21-24). • The ostrich’s seeming negligence magnifies God’s providence: He preserves life where no maternal care exists. Cross references woven in: Job 38:39-41; Psalm 104:21-24; Romans 8:20-22. summary Job 39:15 affirms God’s unmatched wisdom by spotlighting the ostrich’s apparent folly. She lays her eggs, forgets the danger of crushing feet and trampling beasts, yet her species endures. The verse is not primarily about the bird’s behavior but about the Creator’s sovereign oversight: even when a creature shows no care, the Lord cares. The passage calls us to trust the God who sustains fragile life in a harsh world—if He watches over unguarded eggs in the sand, He can certainly watch over us. |
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