The Ostrich and the Horse

A Lesson of Weakness and Strength!

Each of us is unique and the ostrich and horse descriptions in Job 39:13-25 give us a good spiritual reason of why!

GOD DID IT!

God boasts to Job first about the wings and feathers of the ostrich, but then remarks of her total stupidity when laying her eggs.

But then 39:17 says why: “Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.” (Even imperfections are from the Creator!)

But wait!!!! Then the next verse gives a boast! And tells the ostrich’s strength!

Job 39:18 says, “What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.”

God is saying the ostrich is better than a horse in speed! Wow!

Sure enough, I looked it up!

The ostrich can weigh about 300 lbs and stand 8 ft tall and runs 43 mph, whereas a horse averages about 30 mph!

Yet in the very next verses, Job 39:19-25, God boasts about the horse!

“Has thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?”

Scripture goes on to reveal the horse was built for endurance, and ability to handle the loud noises of war, trumpets, weather etc.

So, the Ostrich has a super weakness and a super strength! And the horse, being less fast than an ostrich (it’s evident weakness) is strong in endurance and what it was designed to be and do.

God is taking credit for BOTH the weakness and the strength of his creations.

We can learn from these simple few verses.

We, too, each have weakness and strength…and these are indeed God’s design for us.

For instance, you may be a terrible cook, but an amazing bookkeeper.

You could be physically not built to do physical labor, but you can write and draw well.

You could be autistic, and yet be an incredible musician.

It could even be as simple as; you could have a contagious laugh that endears you to your spouse, and yet snore loudly which bothers your spouse!

Can you see? You, just as the ostrich, may have good and bad things God your creator purposed for you to have…so…

DON’T LET SATAN TORMENT YOU ABOUT A WEAKNESS!

AND DON’T FEEL INFERIOR BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT LIKE SOMEONE ELSE!

God has had enough of that! He made you who you are! Be you!

People have sin and they have weakness. They aren’t the same!

Ask yourself, is this a sin or bad habit that’s affecting me? (that you have opportunity to remedy)

OR is this just a weakness that shames or embarrasses me? (that you need to embrace)

Too often it IS a weakness!

Embrace whatever yours might be.

Instead, find and focus on your strengths and embrace who you were designed to be in purpose!

Remember your creator already delights in both…your strengths AND your weaknesses. (I’m talking things about you that don’t involve willful sin.)

So guess what? You can too!

You can have that joy renewed!

You can have that peace that is there for your receiving.

This truth will bring many of you sweet peace.

Embrace both your strengths and your weaknesses! (smile) We all have them. The Word basically confirms this, for there wasn’t hardly a one that didn’t have a weakness. We see those weaknesses clearly revealed in the pages of the bible. God is great enough to use even our weaknesses for His purposes and glory; therefore, we do not need to be afraid of them!

Amen! Let His strength be made perfect in your weakness! (II Cor 12:8-10)