Birth in the Wilderness

Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them.
Job 39:1–4
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Birth in the Wilderness
God speaks here to Job about the mountain goats, most likely the ibex which still roams the mountains of the Near East and Africa today. He questions Job as to whether or not he knows the birth cycle and dates of these creatures. Of course, he was unaware and could not answer. These beautiful creatures are uniquely created by God for the rugged mountains and are able to give birth on the steep cliffs and jagged outcrops of some of the most inhospitable mountain ranges on the planet. Their young are able to walk within hours and run within a couple of days. They survive in the most remote regions far from any interference from man, because God has designed them for their environment. He takes care of the ibex as He takes care of all His creations. And this mighty God is the one in whom Job demanded counsel, whom he wanted to question. And just as God does not abandon the ibex to the cruelty of the wilderness, neither does He abandon us to the cruelty of a broken world. We are born into a world that is hostile toward God. We ourselves are turned away from Him. Yet He calls us out of the wilderness into His marvelous light out of sheer love for us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins so that in the Holy Spirit given faith we might know our heavenly Father and be saved. And out of the wilderness of sin, we are reborn into the family of God at the font. And through His Word and Sacraments, we become strong and grow up in the truth of Christ Jesus.