Job 39:24–25

From this Jehovah turns to the war-horse, and He describes it in a way worthy of Him who spoke. The picture strikes us all the more because here He comes down to ground where we might think ourselves at home. Other animals may seem strange and distant to us. But a man — an Arab above all — might think he has some right to speak about the creature he most loves to use, for work or comfort, for pride or affection. Yet what did he have to do with giving the horse its strength, or its fluttering mane? Its leap like a locust's? The glory of its snorting, a terror to others? … See how in its furious rage it seems to bite the ground. Nothing can hold it back when the trumpets sound.

Nothing can turn him from his onward dash to meet the charging hosts. The weapons and gear of his rider clash against his sides as he rushes over the ground, "swallowing it" in his headlong speed. Here is an animal that is not exactly wild, yet is given all the strength and speed of the wildest. What part did Job have in designing and creating such a remarkable creature?

The spear and the javelin mean nothing to him, but the clash of arms seems only to increase his fierceness and rage (v.24). He is not a wild animal, yet in war he seems to have the qualities of the wildest of animals. The sound of the trumpet does not stop him, but spurs him on (vv.24-25). As long as the noise and shouting of the battle goes on, he keeps advancing.

The lion, the raven, the wild goat or ibex, the wild donkey, the wild ox, the ostrich, the horse, the hawk and the eagle appear one after another. They come to convince the man who dares to sit in judgment on God's doings that he is ignorant and powerless.

Well, it is a splendid description indeed, but it is all for the purpose of overwhelming Job with the folly of his pretending to talk about God.

In the days our book speaks of, and in the East, the horse was used mainly for war. God warned His people not to put their trust in this mighty agent of war: "The war horse is a false hope for salvation." "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Ps. 20:7). It is He who "has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea" (Ex. 15:1). Jehovah is exalted far above all His creatures. Let Job remember how small he is too, and humble himself before the One who is God over all. His deliverance must come, not from horses, but from the Lord on high.

In fact, God laid Job low at every point. In every possible way He overwhelmed him with the sense of his own ignorance, and of how bold he had been to talk about the far more wonderful ways of a God who deals with a man's heart, his soul, his circumstances now. The Lord does not express that last part. It was God showing His majesty, power, wisdom and goodness in outward things. If that were true of God, how much more in spiritual things?

The horse is a symbol of power… Now the Holy Spirit is given that the believer may have power. The disciples were told by our Lord to wait for the promise of the Father — "until you are clothed with power from on high." Why are Christians so little marked by power?

Now He comes to the horse itself, and to the war horse in particular. "Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?" What have you to do with it? (vv. 19-25). It is a splendid description indeed, but it is all for the purpose of overwhelming Job with the folly of his pretending to talk about God.

From the wonders of the lifeless creation above, beneath and around, Jehovah now turns to the animal kingdom. The lion, the raven, the wild goat or ibex, the wild ass, the wild ox, the ostrich, the horse, the hawk and the eagle appear one after another. They show the man who dares to sit in judgment on God's doings how ignorant and powerless he is.

The war-horse answers the trumpet with Ha, Ha: he is ready. Job 39:25. The same Hebrew word is translated AH, AHA.

He does not shy away from danger, but rushes right into it. Swordsmen opposing him do not slow him down (v. 22). The spear and the javelin mean nothing to him, but the clash of arms seems only to increase his fierceness and rage (v. 24). Though he is not a wild animal, when engaged in war he seems to have the qualities of the wildest of animals. The sound of the trumpet does not stop him, but spurs him on (vv. 24-25). As long as the noise and shouting of the battle continues, he continues his advance.

Did Job give the war horse his strength, or clothe his neck with the rustling mane, or make him leap like the locust? The picture of the war horse in battle is sublime too. God shows Job a glimpse of His works, and of the wisdom that created them, as well as His care in keeping them. Such is the God whom Job has spoken against.

The horse, especially in the days our book speaks of, and in the East, was used chiefly in war. God warned His people not to put their trust in this mighty instrument of war: "The war horse is a false hope for salvation." "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Ps. 20:7). It is He who "has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea" (Ex. 15:1). So infinitely exalted is Jehovah above all His creatures. Let Job remember how small he is, and humble himself before Him who is God over all. His deliverance must come, not from horses, but from the Lord on high.

The horse is a symbol of power. Read the graphic description of the horse by the Lord in Job 39:19-25... Now the Holy Spirit is given so that the believer may have power. Our Lord told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father — "until you are clothed with power from on high." Why are Christians so little marked by power?