God of Our Monsters
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes the necessity of relying on God's power to confront life's overwhelming challenges and spiritual enemies.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that God uses the imagery of the hippopotamus and crocodile to illustrate the overwhelming problems, or 'monsters', that Job faces in his life. These creatures symbolize the insurmountable challenges that humans cannot conquer through their own strength or wisdom. God reassures Job that only He has the power to confront and overcome these monstrous issues, urging believers to recognize their limitations and trust in His omnipotence. Job's response reflects a deep faith in God's ability to handle the impossible, reminding us to stand firm and rely on God's salvation.
Text
God said to Job, "Behold now behemoth [the hippopotamus], which I made with thee" (Job 40:15). "Canst thou draw out leviathan [the crocodile] with an hook? Or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?" (41:1).
Why would God begin his revelation by having Job consider these two massive monsters? Why would God have Job look into the faces of a hippopotamus and a crocodile?
First, the Lord posed this problem to his servant: "Look, Job, here comes the hippopotamus after you. What are you going to do? Can you wrestle him down in your physical strength? No? Maybe you can try to sweet-talk him.
"Now, behold the crocodile that's threatening. How will you handle him? This creature has a heart of stone. He has no concept of mercy." This was more than a simple lecture about the animal kingdom. Rather, God was telling Job something about life's "monsters." He was showing his servant that these two awesome, ferocious, overpowering creatures represented the monstrous problems raging in Job's life.
"Consider the hippo. He tramples down everything in sight. He's simply too big a problem for you to handle, Job. You are no match for him whatsoever. Nothing you can do will tame him. Only I, the Lord, know how to stop such a monstrous creature.
"And what about the crocodile, Job? No human can do battle with such a creature. And nobody in his own strength can strip the crocodile of his thick armor. The same is true of your spiritual enemy, the devil. Only I can win the battle with him."
Do you hear what God is saying in this speech? He's speaking not just to Job but to all believers. And he's declaring, "Face the truth about the monsters in your life. You can't handle them. I'm the only one who can."
Job answered, "My God is all-powerful. He can do all things. And no purpose of his can ever be thwarted. I know I can't stand up against the hippo or the crocodile. But that doesn't matter. I know God can. My part is simply to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" (see Job 42:1-2).
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the concept of monsters in life
- God's challenge to Job regarding his monsters
- The significance of the hippopotamus and crocodile
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II
- Understanding the hippopotamus as a representation of overwhelming problems
- The inability of humans to tackle such problems alone
- God's role in overcoming these challenges
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III
- The crocodile as a symbol of spiritual enemies
- The limitations of human strength against spiritual warfare
- Dependence on God's power for victory
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IV
- The importance of acknowledging our weaknesses
- The call to trust in God's omnipotence
- The assurance of salvation through faith
Key Quotes
“Only I, the Lord, know how to stop such a monstrous creature.” — David Wilkerson
“You can't handle them. I'm the only one who can.” — David Wilkerson
“My part is simply to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Recognize the limitations of your own strength in facing life's challenges.
- Trust in God's ability to handle the monsters in your life.
- Stand firm in faith and wait for God's deliverance.