Pawing, pounding, prancing—the stallion ran across the brown and barren ground, galloping for the sheer joy of it. For who could stand in its way? The other creatures of the wilderness fled before his beating hooves. He was a mass of moving, fearless muscle. He raced to rival the wind.

* * * * *

God spoke to Job of the horse:

“Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear…He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage…and he smelleth the battle afar off… (Job 39:19-25).

What a creature is this horse God has made! It is able to gallop to speeds over 40 mph. It is able to pull up 550 pounds of dead weight at a rate of 1 foot per second (the “horsepower” that machines are still measured by today). What majesty and might it displays! And who are we? Did we give it its strength? Did we give it its courage? Can we run as far or as fast?

God makes each creature for His own purpose and glory. But even though the might of a horse is indeed a glorious thing, is that what God truly delights in?