Job 38:41

God is here bringing to nothing all the proud talk of Job. But He is not satisfied with showing man's littleness by what is vast. He also takes up what we might think are quite small things... It matters little whether we look at the greatest of God's works or at the least. Everywhere we meet something completely beyond the reach of man. Job had even claimed to judge the moral depths of God. But he could not face, and had not the slightest idea of, what God is in the least part of His universe.

God considers the young. Even a bird as unclean as the raven has its food provided by Him. It is wonderful to read that the helpless young ravens cry to God. Animals recognise the Creator by their instincts and look to Him for food. The sound may not be the sweet song of a lark, but only the croak of a raven. It reminds us of the witness this same Creator gave when He came in the form of a creature. "Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" (Luke 12:24).

The word oreb comes from a root meaning "to be black"... When Noah sent the raven out from the ark, it could no doubt find food, though the dove could not, because it can feed on dead flesh... The meat-eating ravens brought flesh as well as bread to Elijah, and this shows God's miraculous power. He made them feed His servant. They are greedy eaters, and they have no storehouse or barn. Yet God feeds them, and He will surely feed those who trust in Him.

It is not only the great lion, but the much smaller raven, when its young ones cry to God — there it is, they cry to Him. They do not murmur; they cry. They tell their want, God has put that into them. It is a cry, and God hears it as directed to Himself. "They wander about for lack of food." But He hears and answers.

The raven is a bird of prey (v.41), but if God did not provide the prey for them and their young, how could they continue to exist? It is striking that the verse says here, "its young ones cry to God." Whether they understand what they are doing is not the question. God recognises their cry. If so, did God not hear the cry of Job? Of course He did, though He did not answer Job at just the time and in the way that Job thought He ought to.

It is significant that the list of animals opens and closes with beasts and birds of prey. They might look worthless, or even harmful, yet He cares for them with unerring wisdom. Shall He fail to watch over His child who knows and trusts Him?