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Job 26:12
12 He divideth [raga`] the sea [yam] with his power [koach], and by his understanding [tabuwn] [tabuwn] he smiteth [machats] through the proud [rahab]. KJV-Interlinear
12 'He quieted the sea with His power, And by His understanding He shattered Rahab. NASB
All too often commentators try to apply this verse to the dividing of the Red Sea or to the dividing of the oceans after the Noah flood. But remember that the Bible is one long series of parables, using worldly terms or situations to describe spiritual concepts.
Throughout the Bible, the sea has been used to describe the will of humanity or the will of the nations. In one sense, God has a plan, a divine plan for history. In another sense, Satan has a plan, an evil plan wherein he desires to be better than God, and in effect overthrow God as the ruler of the universe.
Mans plan follows that of Satan in that man has for a long time seen himself as the ruler and determiner of his own destiny. Since ancient times, men have abused there power in quests for territory and authority over the weaker masses. Rulers did not hesitate to force armies of men to charge to their own death, simply because that ruler was power greedy.
And so history's ebb and flow of the human will, like the ocean tides, try to escape their boundaries. They storm and they settle down into a calm. But try as they may, the seas cannot break out of Gods defined boundaries.
The seas are literally water. They have no soul, no mental capacity. The seas do not think. And yet here they are ascribed with arrogance (Rahab). The nation is often referred to as Rahab for its unleashed arrogance and the destruction which comes out of it.
But Job uses Rahab here also to describe monsters, sea demons, dragons, crocodiles and such things. These pose great danger to man or to anyone who is caught up in their jaws.
Wisdom from God is of course His truth. Gods truth encompasses many things. Gods wisdom is not restricted to the words written in the Bible, but apply to all things that God has designed, defined and created. The primary concept here being Gods divine plan for the dispensations of human history, the work of salvation, and so forth.
The world of course wants to define things differently, leaving God out of pretty much everything. But the defiance, the rebellion, the animal predator arrogant attitude of humanity which is described here, is all controlled by God.
Try as he may, neither Satan nor mankind will be able to alter Gods plan. Neither Satan nor mankind will be able to superimpose their own will over that of Gods, and force a different outcome for history, than that which God has already foreseen.
Man, apart from God, is driven by arrogance. Arrogance is the great destroyer of life. People will boast about their desires, their goals, their intentions. People will boast about their beliefs and try to impose their standards and will, onto others.
But try as they may, the gossips, the politicians, the celebrities, the tyrants of the world, everyone can go only so far and no further.
God has placed limits on man, and on history.
