Some time back, I came across a passage in Scripture that I was familiar with, but don't recall ever giving serious consideration to. I have thought about it from time to time since then. The passage is Job 39:13-18. It reads -
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?
For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground,
forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them.
She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,
because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding.
When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider."
As you may know, this passage follows many chapters of Job's friends and Job himself pondering reality and questioning why he was in the predicament he was in. Job has lost nearly everything and his friends seem to think that it is due to something sinful that he has done. Job disagrees with them, but still questions God and is frustrated because he has received no answer to the question "Why?".
Then, beginning in chapter 38 and extending all the way through chapter 41, God speaks to Job in response. In the longest sustained direct speech from God in all of Scripture, God straightens out Job's thinking. In the passage at hand, God uses the ostrich as an example to highlight His own creativity and marvelousness to the man, Job.
See, there really is no logical explanation for an ostrich. Have you ever looked at an ostrich and wondered, "Why, God"? Like, why is there such thing as an ostrich? A huge bird that cannot fly at all, but runs faster than nearly every land animal...it defies all norms and makes no sense. But God.
God points out the odd characteristics of the ostrich to Job. She is a poor mother, with little love or thought for her young. Yet she also is fearless. Why? Because "God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding". She fears little because she knows little. Her mind is not concerned with such things. God designed her this way. Though she is weak in many areas, God did give her one amazing strength. What is it? It is her ability to run. God tells Job that she "laughs at the horse and his rider".
So, what are we to make of such an unusual passage? For four chapters, God confounds Job by pointing out various things concerning the created world that Job cannot explain or even comprehend. What God is doing is humbling Job and teaching him that He has created and controlled things in countless ways that are all beyond Job's simple mind. He is revealing that, though Job cannot understand, God does. And though he may not understand his circumstances, they are within God's purview. He reigns over Job's circumstances.
If we ponder a bit more and compare the unusual nature of the ostrich to most other "normal" animals, we must come to grips with the reality that everything/everyone that God creates for His glory may not fit our mold of usefulness, but that God made them nonetheless. He made them in order to fulfill the role that He has given to them. We may not understand that role, they may not even, but God most certainly does.
This fact alone ought to compel us to love those whom God has created. Though they be odd, or difficult, or whatever, they are God's. He did not seek counsel from us before He made such people. He did not ask our thoughts or request our input. He made them. He made them to bring glory to Himself. And they will. By their submission to Christ here and now, or by their submission to Him on that Last Day, all men will exalt God and will confess the name of Jesus as Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11)!
I encourage you to read II Corinthians 5:11-21 for a proper perspective in dealing with such people, or any people for that matter -
- v. 11 - "Therefore, knowing the fear of God, we persuade others."
- v. 16 - "From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh."
- v. 18 - "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
- v. 20 - "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us."
So, when you come across an "ostrich"...find a way to share the good news about Jesus with him. Who knows, God might just use him to teach you a thing or two.
Pastor Jeremy
