The Bible Says
Job 38:39-41 Meaning

In Job 38:39-41, God continues His response to Job, introducing a new topic, now highlighting His sovereignty over and care of the animal world. God’s sovereignty over the animal kingdom, compared with Job’s relative ineptitude, will continue through Chapter 39, then pick up again in Job 40:15 and continue through Job 41. God begins this new topic by asking, Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, When they crouch in their dens And lie in wait in their lair? (vv. 39-40).

In asking this question about the lion and his capability to hunt for prey, God emphasizes a simple reality: Job, as a mere human, cannot provide what these majestic predators need, but God does. The basic idea is “If you can’t care for animals by giving them guidance, what would make you think you can provide guidance for Me?” We will see in Job 40:15-24 that God will delve into Job’s inability to deal with a creature called “Behemoth” and in 41:1-34 “Leviathan.” The point will be “If you can’t harness these animals I made, what makes you think you can harness Me?” This opening salvo regarding the lion begins the topic, which will build to a crescendo.

Job would not have personal knowledge about the lions when they crouch in their dens, or when they wait in their lair. This is because getting that close to lions to learn of their ways would be a deadly endeavor. Continuing his inquiries regarding the animal kingdom, God asks, Who prepares for the raven its nourishment When its young cry to God And wander about without food? (v. 41).

Ravens cannot feed themselves as chicks, and their survival relies on a provider to furnish sustenance. The young cry for food. It is their parents who feed the chicks. But God takes credit for being the source of their nourishment, describing their cry as being to God. This is because God placed the instinct within the mother to compel her to care for her young. Job has no agency to beget such a wonder, but God has done so, and it is observable. Just as God placed wisdom into the innermost being of humans, God placed instinct for nurturing into the raven (Job 38:36).

God cares for all His creation. Just as He hears the raven’s cry, He also hears the cries of those who suffer, including Job. God is allowing Job to go through this difficult time because He desires Job to know Him by faith. As Jesus said, eternal life is to know God and His Son (John 17:3). Job came to know God through earthly experience and a walk of faith.

God instructed Job through a storm. For New Testament believers, we have the opportunity to overcome as Jesus overcame and gain the reward of serving with Him in reigning in His kingdom (Revelation 3:21). Jesus asserted to Thomas that he was blessed because he saw and believed, but those who believe without seeing will be even more blessed (John 20:29). Therefore, New Testament believers have the opportunity to learn the lessons from Job and gain the blessing of Job, to know God by faith.