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The Beauty of the Beast:

Behemoths and Batrachians in the Eye of God

Calvin B. DeWitt

There are some creatures toward which human beings have some natural affinity: soft furry ones with big round eyes, flashy feathery ones with docile beaks, colorful scaly ones with whiskery fins. But those with flabby flesh and oozing pores, with bulging throats and acrid warts, are "horses of a different color." And thus in the eye of persons of our kind there is likely to be an asymmetry in the affection we bestow across the creatured spectrum. And with such imbalance may come differential treatment, varying respect, and diverging care and keeping. Koalas and Cockatiels are likely to be loved, cuddled, and cared for more than Toads and Hippopotami.

It is perhaps for this reason that God finds it necessary to praise the unlovely, uncuddled, and little cared for kinds in the presence of Job. God's psalm to the Hippopotamus is a wondrous example. From it we can learn a great deal about respecting creatures that may not attract us. For here we see what the human eye may call ugly through the appreciative eye of God.

"Behold Behemoth which I made along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox."

This great bestial creature is my creation, I -- your Creator -- also made this great beast!

"What strength he has in his loins,
what power in the muscle of his belly!"

Truly magnificent my Hippo is; my creature is strong and powerful!

"His tail sways like a cedar
the sinews of his stones are close knit."

You people may not want to admire the perfection and wonder of this creature's reproductive organs, but I -- their Creator -- am proud of this wonderful provision. Could there be a better way to provide for procreation of such a massive creature?

"His bones are tubes of bronze
his limbs like rods of iron."

What architecture there is in this, my beast -- strength of limb and bone for sure! And so marvelously wrought that this creature's mass is mightily upheld.

"He ranks first among the works of God."

Not that people are not important, of course, but I put it this way so that you know the importance of this creature in my sight. I rate this Hippo Number One -- I hope you do too!

"Only I, the Maker of this beast can approach it with a sword."

As Author of this creature, I have the authority to kill this wonderful creature, but only I. I say this not to tell you I am going to destroy it, for I am not; I say this to tell you: 'Leave your hands off my Hippo! Put down your arrow and gun. Don't you dare try to demonstrate your power by destroying what through my power I have made. Real power, after all, is shown by the Maker, not by the destroyer. This work of art belongs to the Creator alone, the One who has the right to create and destroy.

"The hills bring him their produce,
and all the wild animals play nearby."

This creature is not sprawling over a concrete slab one of your zoos, but is in its proper habitat, deriving food from it and related to all the wild animals there, if only because they too bring God praise.

"Under the lotus plants he lies, hidden among the reeds in the marsh."

Its wetland habitat while not very well suited for people is nicely suited for the Hippo and the Hippo is nicely suited for its aquatic habitat. It is fully integrated into the dynamic fabric of its watery lush world.

"The lotuses conceal him in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream surround him."

Integrated into its habitat even this giant creature is inconspicuous. It fits into its habitat in a marvelous beastly harmony that sees the wetland vegetation embrace it with their spreading boughs and concealing leaves.

"When the river rages, he is not alarmed;
he is secure, though the Jordan
should surge against his mouth."

Its integration into its environment goes beyond physical arrangements of plants and animals to include its own psyche; this beast is at home in the wetland and the river torrent!

"Can anyone capture him by the eyes,
or trap him and pierce his nose?"

Not only is this creature one that might not respond to your beckoning, it even is beyond possibility that you would be able to put it on a leash and show it off around town. It is God's creature and praises God in its being; it is not yours in the sense some of your pets are. This creature has strength that would overwhelm you, and, it has a mind of its own. Respect this Hippo, man and woman! It is God's marvelous and dynamic creation! Respect it!

Epilogue

The Hippopotamus or Behemoth is a remarkable creature in its own right; its value is in the eye of God; God declares it to be good, as God does the whole creation (Genesis 1); it is God's property, God's masterpiece; only the Master has the right to destroy what the Master has created. A beast need not have utility to have worth. Here we have a beast that is beautiful in the eye of God. In our imaging God and God's love for the creatures, these creatures should be beautiful in our eyes too. If beauty is in the eye of the Beholder, then we, imaging God, should see all creatures through God's eyes, beholding the beauty of the Beholder.

Bible quotations (Job 40:15-24) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, Colorado Springs, Colorado, with modifications. "Behold, Behemoth" is used in place of "Look at the behemoth" in v. 15a; "stones" replaces "thighs" in v. 17b (cf. King James Version and the Geneva Bible); and "Only I, the Maker of this beast can approach it with a sword" instead of "Yet his Maker can approach him with his sword" in v. 19b.

Please mail any comments to Dr. Mark Lassiter.