“God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
Bildad has just been talking about how God deals with the wicked and the righteous, and Job does not dispute it. But he presses the question Bildad never faced: if God is this strong, how can any man stand before Him and be right?
The Question Behind the Chapter
The whole speech grows out of one question Job asks at the start of the chapter.
F. B. HoleHe began by acknowledging that God's disciplinary ways are right. But he raised the all-important question: how could a man be right with God? In our day people use the short sentence, "Get right with God," to awaken interest in the gospel message. It might well provoke the reply, "Yes, but how is it to be achieved?" That is the very question Job asked in verse 2. The rest of the chapter shows how earnest and sincere he was in asking it, for he suggested and examined four possible answers. Each suggestion begins with an "If."
Who the Helpers of Rahab Are
"Rahab" here is not a person but a name. Older translations render the phrase as "the proud helpers."
Morrish Bible DictionaryA poetical name, signifying 'insolence,' given to Egypt. Ps. 87:4; Ps. 89:10; Isa. 51:9.
Job's picture, then, is of the mightiest backers of the proudest power on earth.
Samuel RidoutComing to the heart of his trouble, Job declares that he can have no access to this great and mighty Being who hides Himself and gives no account of His ways to anyone. He passes by, unseen as the winds. He deals in anger, but no one can ask a reason — not even the "proud helpers," the "helpers of Rahab" (Egypt). They can only bow under Him.
Anger That Is Not Turned Back
The first half of the verse says as much as the second. Job is not describing a temper that cools.
Leslie M. GrantHe will not withdraw His anger from anything contrary to Him, and He will lay flat under His feet those who identify themselves with the proud.
The Argument Turned on Himself
Job draws the conclusion in the next line: if they stoop, what chance has he? The comment below quotes an older translation of the verse.
William Kelly"If God will not withdraw His anger, the proud helpers do stoop under Him. How much less shall I answer Him?" There he is beginning to feel his weakness. He was not a proud man; but as all men are, until they learn in the way I have described, he had a very good opinion of himself. That must all come down. If a man is to be blessed, or a woman, the blessing will not come by a good opinion of oneself. That is wrong, and the greatest hindrance to the blessing of God and the enjoyment of His grace.
The Question Bildad Missed
What Job says about God's power is true — so true that God Himself will press the same point on him at the end of the book. The error in this debate lies elsewhere.
William KellyBildad had talked truisms about God's dealing with the wicked and the righteous. But he had not faced the question: how can mortal man have a standing of righteousness with God? For his own part Job admitted man's inability, and God's right to act according to His power. In fact, it was exactly what Job himself experienced when the LORD put His questions to him at the close of the book. To dispute it is to court destruction. So to blame his sufferings on secret wickedness showed ignorance of God's sovereign ways.
The Cry It Produces
Because no one can stand under that anger, Job reaches for something he cannot find.
Samuel RidoutAll efforts to change the judgment are useless. And oh — where is there a daysman, a mediator who could enter into judgment, laying his hands on God and Job alike? Consumed with terror, Job cannot speak. Thank God, we know, as Job later knew in part, that there is such a Daysman.
Summary
- Question. The chapter runs on one question — how can a man be right with God? — and verse 13 is Job's evidence that he cannot manage it himself.
- Rahab. The name means insolence — a poetic name for Egypt. Its "helpers" are the strongest allies pride ever recruited.
- Stooping. If those helpers bowed, no one else can stand. Job's next words draw the obvious conclusion about himself.
- Humbling. A good opinion of oneself is the greatest hindrance to God's blessing. Job's had to come down.
- Daysman. The verse leaves a man with no footing before God. That is why Job cries out for a mediator — and we know there is one.