Sometimes a news story seems too good to be true, not regarding the veracity of what happened, but regarding the breath-taking stupidity of the action reported. Like the story of the man who recently tried to steal a length of copper cable by attempting to sever it with his knife; only to discover that the cable was live and pulsed with 11,000 volts. The result was a fireball ‘hotter than the surface of the sun’ and third-degree burns.

But more breath-taking, says the Book in the story of Job, is the man who attempts to capture the fearsome creature Leviathan. “Can you pull in the leviathan with a fishhook or tie down his tongue with a rope? Will he keep begging you for mercy?… If you lay a hand on him, you will remember the struggle and never do it again!” Probably because there is no longer a limb to lay on him!

But most breath-taking of all, says the Book, is the man who commits adultery: “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? … A man who commits adultery lacks judgment… Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away”. But is there no hope in the gospel for such a man? Yes, but adultery can leave a person with proud eyes, such that they never look to the Cross. But O that they would, before that place comes which burns hotter than the