Dragons, the Leviathan, and the Praise in the Taking
While traveling through Italy today, I spotted a carving of a sea monster on the architecture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It immediately caught my eye and got my imagination running.
Next week is the season 3 finale of House of the Dragon, and I am genuinely excited to watch it. But as much as I am looking forward to the finale, I find myself looking forward to church even more. I am eager to see what surprises God has for me on the Sabbath.
Thinking about those ancient sea monsters carved in stone, the dragons on television, and the ancient bones buried in the earth fills me with a profound sense of awe. When you look at the deep mysteries of the earth, the ancient histories of the flood that spanned civilizations, and the sheer scale of what once walked this planet, it all points to the wonder of a Supreme Designer.
Sometimes I watch secular shows like Ancient Aliens, and instead of pulling me away from faith, they actually reinforce it. The constant search for missing links and ancient mysteries just proves the reality of a Creator whose ways are higher than ours. Every great cinematic universe—from House of the Dragon to Star Wars—relies on themes of epic battles, ancient bloodlines, and formidable beasts. But they are all just imitations of the ultimate, true story: the Bible.
You don't have to look any further than Job 41, where God describes the Leviathan—a creature of untamable, terrifying power.
I read the book of Job closely in those agonizing months right after Cash passed. It brought me comfort then, but rereading it now hits differently. When I read it this time, the heaviest realization wasn't about Job's suffering; it was about his innocence. Job was blameless. I am not.
I am not righteous. When I look back at my feral 40s and the selfishness I walked in, I know I deserve the discipline I've received. To say that I am enduring the "trials of Job" would be incorrect because I am not without fault.
The most profound lesson I am taking away from Job is found in the famous phrase: "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away." Most people stop quoting the verse right there. But the very next line is the most important part: "Praise be to the name of the Lord."
Whenever we acknowledge that God has taken something away, we must immediately follow it with praise.
I know I am not going to have a new family of sons and daughters like Job did at the end of his story. And honestly, I don't think God will ever restore my wealth to what it once was. He absolutely could; I do not doubt His power for a second. But I don't deserve it, and more importantly, I know I couldn't handle it. I am not wise or responsible enough to manage that amount of money.
I can barely handle the abundance He has entrusted to me right now. GO Agency AI is generating a great MRR for a one-man show, but with expenses running well over that, it is a constant, humbling struggle to make ends meet. I am working incredibly hard to get my finances in order so I can faithfully tithe off the first fruits, which is incredibly difficult when the margins are this tight and the debt load so high.
I still battle the same sins of my past, again and again. But I am choosing to trust God. I will praise Him for what He has given, and I will praise Him for what He has had the mercy to take away.
Today's SOAP
S — Scripture
Job 41:1, 10 (NIV): "Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope?... No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?"
Job 1:21 (NIV): "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."
O — Observation
In chapters 40 and 41, God questions Job, using the untamable beasts of the earth—the Behemoth and the Leviathan—to illustrate His absolute sovereignty. If humanity cannot even stand before the terrifying creatures God has made, how can we possibly stand and question the Creator Himself? Job's overarching response to God's ultimate power is complete humility, recognizing that whether God is giving abundant blessings or allowing devastating loss, He alone is worthy of praise.
A — Application
It is easy to get distracted by the mysteries of the world, ancient history, or the tight financial margins of running a business. But God uses the sheer scale of His creation to remind me of my place. I am not blameless, and my wisdom is incredibly limited. I cannot manage the Leviathan, and I cannot manage millions. My responsibility is to manage the thousands He has placed in my hands right now with integrity, tithing faithfully even when the expenses are heavy. When I look at the immense power of God, my only correct posture is humility. I must learn to praise Him just as fiercely in the taking as I do in the giving.
Daily Prayer
Heavenly Father, I give You the absolute first fruits of my day. Wash my mind with Your peace, calm my nervous system, and give me the clarity that comes from trusting You completely. When I look at the majesty of Your creation, I am humbled by Your power. Forgive my past selfishness, and give me the extreme focus and discipline to execute my business with integrity, honoring You with the first fruits of my income despite the heavy expenses. Protect my family fiercely, guiding the steps of those I love and surrounding their transitions and struggles with Your grace. I completely surrender my grief, my finances, and my deep desire to understand the mysteries of this world into Your perfect hands. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be Your holy name. In Jesus' name, Amen.
