Job 39:21

Jehovah has shown the wonders of lifeless creation above, beneath, and around. Now He 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 are there to convince the man who ventures to sit in judgment on God's doings of his own ignorance and powerlessness.

From this Jehovah turns to the war-horse. He describes it in a way worthy of Him who spoke. The impression is all the more vivid, because here He comes down to ground where we might be inclined to think ourselves at home. Other animals might be more or less strange and distant. Man, and Arab man above all, might think he had some right to speak of what he most loves to use for work or comfort, for pride or affection. But what had he to do with giving the horse its might or its fluttering mane? its locust-like bound? the glory of its snorting, a terror to others? its pawing, impatient of restraint, and exulting in its strength? or its fearless advance, no matter what the clang or the flash of arms?

The Lord now turns to consider the horse. It is a tame animal, with great strength and no fear at all, yet controlled by his rider. Had Job given such strength to this amazing creature? (v.19). Or could he frighten him? (v.20). It is a war horse particularly in this case, an animal that "goes out to meet the weapons" (v.21). He does not shy away from danger, but rushes right into it. Swordsmen opposing him do not slow him down (v.22)... Though he is not a wild animal, when engaged in war, he seems to have the qualities of the wildest of animals.

Again, this is another creature that man would not have thought of creating — least of all a man who loved peace. It is one more object lesson for Job, to tell him God is greater than Job.

In the days our book speaks of, and in the East, the horse was mainly an animal of war. God warned His people not to trust 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)... So infinitely exalted is Jehovah above all His creatures. Let Job remember how small he too is, and humble himself before Him who is God over all. His deliverance must come, not from horses, but from the Lord on high.

Now He comes to the horse itself; and the war horse in particular... What have you to do with it?... 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 fact, Job was laid low on every point. In every possible way he was overwhelmed with the sense of his own ignorance and presumption. He had been talking about the far more wonderful ways of a God who deals with a man's heart, man's soul, man's circumstances now... 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. Read the graphic description of the horse by the Lord in Job 39:19-25... 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? We are afraid... the way is not made plain... in other words, on the one side to judge the flesh, on the other to walk in the Spirit. Then there will be power.