Will you play with [the crocodile] as with a bird? Or will you put him on a leash for your maidens? … Lay your hand upon him! Remember your battle with him; you will not do [such an ill-advised thing] again! … No one is so fierce [and foolhardy] that he dares to stir up [the crocodile]; who then is he who can stand before Me [the beast’s Creator, or dares to contend with Me]? [Job 41:5,8,10 (AMP)]
Monday was not a good day for two animals in the swamp. A fledgling owlet became dinner for an alligator as did a large turtle. I thought mention of their fate would be a perfect illustration of what happens when one ventures too close to temptation and Satan sneaks up when we’re not looking. Out of curiosity, I searched for the words “crocodile” and “alligator” in various Bible translations. While pharaoh and Egypt were likened to crocodiles and all lizards, including crocodiles, were considered unclean food, I found no comparison to Satan. Imagine my surprise, however, when I found a comparison to God himself!
In Job 41, God points out that it is foolish for people to think they can stand up against God when they are afraid to confront even a crocodile. Indeed, God is much more powerful than a crocodile or alligator. We’ve probably all used the phrase, “Well, you can’t fight City Hall!” when battling bureaucracy. God is pointing out that red tape in City Hall and crocodiles (“Leviathan” in many translations) are nothing when compared to fighting Him. We are guaranteed a loss before even starting! “If you lay a hand on it, you will certainly remember the battle that follows. You won’t try that again!” [Job 41:8 (NLT)] Moreover, you probably won’t have a hand with which to try!
Many of Monday’s tourists were visibly upset by seeing the alligators’ successful hunts. What they observed, however, was simply nature taking its course. The alligators were only doing what alligators do: eat. The fact that owlets and turtles are far cuter has nothing to do with it! I’ve seen frogs, fish and snakes eaten by the wading birds and, while less endearing than baby birds and turtles, their fate was no less tragic for them. Who are we to argue with Mother Nature? God’s point exactly! Only His is: “Who are we to argue with or question God?” Calamity, suffering and even death come to us all, cute and not so cute, good and bad alike. A panther, python, person or loss of habitat may be the end of the alligators; the herons, owls and turtles have already taken a few gator babies for dinner themselves. As ugly as it is sometimes, that’s life.
What did I learn from Monday’s episode? Well, obviously we should be on the lookout for danger. More important, I was reminded that sometimes life seems terribly bewildering, unfair, unpleasant, undeserved, unreasonable, messy, accidental, calamitous, or catastrophic. But, who am I to argue with God?
Devotions of the Heart 