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Job 40:15-18
15 Behold now behemoth [bahemowth], which I made [`asah] with thee; he eateth ['akal] grass [chatsiyr] as an ox [baqar].
16 Lo now, his strength [koach] is in his loins [mothen], and his force ['own] is in the navel [shariyr] of his belly [beten].
17 He moveth [chaphets] his tail [zanab] like a cedar ['erez]: the sinews [giyd] of his stones [pachad] are wrapped together [sarag].
18 His bones [`etsem] are as strong ['aphiyq] pieces of brass [nachuwshah]; his bones [gerem] are like bars [matiyl] of iron [barzel]. KJV-Interlinear
15 'Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 'Behold now, his strength in his loins, And his power in the muscles of his belly. 17 'He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 'His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron. NASB
God begins His last two descriptions of a beast that walks on the land and the beast that swims in the water. The Behemoth in this chapter, and the Leviathan in the next chapter are going to be described in detail as to their build and character. And though neither are clearly identified, and probably are animals that are now extinct so people will no try to idolize them, their identity is irrelevant. God describes their attributes because it is those things which He has made, that are important.
God made them, living creatures, out of the dust of the earth. What has man created of similar fashion?
God has made them to procreate and perpetuate themselves, to defend themselves, to feed themselves and otherwise live a long life in the wild. What has man created that can do the same?
And of course man has never created life, other than perpetuating his own kind, but man has never and will never create life out of a lifeless substance (dust).
The Behemoth describes a large quadruped of some sort, but of which Job was familiar. Even we can look to large animals, such as the elephant or the rhino to find similar attributes. So we are not without examples.
This animal grazes on the grasses of the field and in the marshes. God describes his physical construction, his muscles, his thighs, his bones, the strength he derives from his belly and legs. All of these intended to gain awe and respect as to his build, and might. His tail whipping around in similar fashion to the limbs of trees, implying great flexibility combined with control.
And can you guess another reason for this description?
The overall design of the beast. He is not similar to the fish, not similar to the bird, not even similar to other four legged animals that may walk the land.
He was designed and constructed. He did not come into existence by accident or chance. The beast was designed with a purpose. He did not come into existence on a whim or just to use up some extra dust.
If God has a design for something that is now extinct, then could God possibly have a design and purpose for you, who are far more important than an extinct beast?
