Job 32-37 Another Voice
Job’s three friends have been ‘counseling’ him in his distress. He rebukes their words as false. But another voice is heard when theirs falls silent.
Until I started reading Job again, I didn’t remember that there was a fourth person, besides Job’s wife, who confronted him. Elihu takes up the task of confronting Job and his friends. Apparently, he has been watching them all along; waiting to see what happens.
Elihu is mad at everyone involved in this debate. No one is getting it right or answering correctly. From his words, I believe that he half agrees with Job’s friends but his greatest anger is directed at Job. “How dare you speak like that to God! Or about God!”
Let’s rejoin the story and see what this young man has to say. Holy Spirit, I need Your hand again to guide me and help me understand what is truly being said. Show me the purpose in Your heart in this story.
♥ ♦ ♥
Job finally falls silent. His friends wag their heads at his words, but none challenge him. One lone friend of the men sits nearby. He has been watching and listening all this time. He has been hoping that someone would speak to Job in a way that he would grasp and he is angry over the friend’s failure. But he is even angrier at Job, for saying that HE would speak to God of his innocence and that God should listen. “Who does he think he is?” He has had enough of just listening. He has something to say and it is forcing its way up from his heart.
Job sits scratching his skin with one of the broken pieces of pottery. His friends have their eyes fixed on the ground. Elihu clears his throat and all eyes momentarily turn towards him. When they all go back to what they were just doing, Elihu pushes himself from his seat on the ground and comes to stand in the middle of them all. His voice starts out timid, but quickly grows.
“It’s my turn to speak. I have been listening to all of you as you ‘debate’ Job’s plight. I waited silently as you all spoke because you are older than I am. I have always been taught that wisdom comes with age, but I don’t see that born out in front of me at this time. I have come to realize that it is not the years of a man’s spirit that makes him wise, but the source within it. I too have God’s source as my wisdom, and I am going to speak what burns withing my spirit.”
Job and his friends shrug their shoulders and do nothing to prevent Elihu from speaking. Elihu turns to address Job’s friends.
“I have listened diligently to your words, your sayings, and your advice. None of you could answer Job in his anguish. Your whole premise rested on the wickedness of Job and God punishing him for his actions. But God is NOT a man. His ways are not your ways. And His works are beyond your understanding.”
Elihu turns his attention to Job.
“They don’t have anything more to say. My spirit is urging me to speak, rather than waiting on them to come up with more ‘wisdom’ for you. The words that I will speak to you burn within me and will not be quenched until I speak them. I will speak only the truth, without flattery or holding anything back.”
Job remains silent. Elihu takes this as encouragement to go on. Even without encouragement, he will speak what his heart longs to say.
“I am a man just like you. My words are as valuable as yours. I was made by my Creator from the dust of the earth, the same as you. And my walk before Him is the same as yours. You don’t need to fear my words, but you should reflect on them so that you may answer me.”
Job nods his head once to Elihu.
“I have heard how you have answered your friends. How you refuted their words when they called you wicked. You said, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me’ (Job 33:9). But then you go on to lay blame at the feet of God. ‘Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths’ (Job 33:10-11).”
Job nods. These are indeed his words, and he still believes them. Elihu shakes his head at Job’s characterization of God.
“I find fault in how you have answered. This is NOT how God behaves. He speaks in ways that man does not understand. He uses visions and dreams as only a few of the ways that He speaks to man. These come to him as warnings so that a man can change his ways in the face of God’s words.”
No one makes a sound as Elihu goes on.
“God also rebukes a man with pain and suffering. The man wastes away and longs for death, until a mediator in the form of an angel stands between man and his sins. Then his life will be restored to him, for God has heard his cry for help. The man sees God’s good character and rejoices, while also confessing his sin before Him and asking for His forgiveness. God does this over and over again for man. He preserves his soul from going down into the pit that he may enjoy the light of the Lord’s love.”
Elihu is now firmly into his message for Job. He holds nothing back, but he does give Job a moment to formulate his thoughts.
“Pay close attention to my words, for they are strength to you. If you have a rebuttal, speak it. If not, keep listening, for there is much more I would share with you.”
No one makes a sound so Elihu continues on. In his heart he is thanking God and silently prays for the right words to say.
“Listen to my words and let your hearts bear witness to the truth in them. Job contends with your words and says of himself; ‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression’ (Job 34:5-7). Is there any man like Job, who seems to drink in criticism like water, and doesn’t separate himself from evil doers or wicked men? For, from his own mouth he has said; ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God’ (Job 34:9).”
Job starts to protest, but thinks better of it. For he knows these are his own words given back to him.
“Listen closely all you ‘men of understanding’. Far be it for GOD to do wickedness or for the Almighty to do wrong! For according to a man’s works, the Lord will repay him. God WILL NOT do wrong or pervert justice. If He wanted to, He could withdraw himself for the earth and take His Spirit with Him. Then ALL LIFE would cease, for there is no life apart from Him.”
Heads nod all around, but not vigorously.
“Think about this. Will you say that God is unjust? Will you condemn Him, who is righteous and just? Would you say to a king, ‘You are a worthless fellow’, or call elders ‘wicked men’, or scoff it princes? Would you say that the rich are better than the poor? They are ALL works of His hands and, when they die, they will ALL be equal. Their lives are in God’s hands at that point, and HE is the ultimate judge.”
Job’s head is bowed in shame.
“God sees the ways of man. There is no hiding from Him. Even the darkest gloom can not prevent Him from knowing the truth and judging accordingly. God ensures that the wicked receive their punishment. He overturns them in the night and they have no defense against Him. Those who turned aside from following Him, or caused the poor to be oppressed will see His hand. Who can prevent Him from acting on what HE knows is truth? Who can call Him forward when He waits? Who can make Him show His face when He is waiting? Who can say to Him; ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more; teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’ (Job 34:31-32)? Who will tell HIM to restore what has been taken?”
Elihu shakes his head at the group and their words up until this point.
“Wise men will say of Job; ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight’ (Job 34:35). I wish that Job would be tried until the end for he has added rebellion to his sin by his own words against the Lord.”
“‘Do you think this to be just? Do you say, “It is my right before God,” that you ask, “What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?”’ (Job 35:2-3). Consider the clouds in the sky; how they are so much higher than you. So is the Lord our God. If you have sinned, what does it do to diminish Him? Even if your sins are multiplied, how will that lessen His greatness. Also, if you act righteously, what will it benefit Him? And your good works, how do these increase His power? Your sin affects YOU, and your righteous deeds affect you as well.”
All eyes are downcast as they weigh Elihu’s words.
“In the depths of trouble, men cry out to God to save them with His mighty hand. They are calling out for His release for themselves. They are not calling out and asking Him for peace during their struggle, or for wisdom to understand it. He does not answer the empty call; one who only calls out for his own sake. How much less will He hear you when you cry out against Him and say that HE is in the wrong and demand He show Himself right.”
Elihu looks directly at Job.
“He has withheld His anger and not punished you, or taken note of your sin of arrogance. You spoke with empty words and without wisdom. Learn well what He says now.”
Elihu addresses all the group again.
“Bear with me for a little while longer while I speak on God’s behalf. The knowledge I share and the righteousness is the Lord’s. God is mighty and does not despise anyone. He knows and understands all. Contrary to Job’s assessment, He does not keep the wicked alive. And He does give the righteous their due. He elevates leaders and establishes their thrones. But when they do wickedly, He declares their deeds to them so that they may repent. He opens their ears so they may hear Him. IF they listen, He restores them; if not, they are destroyed by the sword of their own making.”
Elihu paces in front of the group while he continues to speak for God.
“When a man is godless in his heart, when he comes into trouble, he does not call out to the Lord for help, bur perishes instead. But He delivers the afflicted who call out to Him and opens their ears to instruction through their struggles. He brought you out of distress before and set before you the fatness of the land. But you are full of judgment against the wicked. Beware that anger doesn’t entice you into sinning. Don’t disregard the ransom price He has paid for your life.”
Elihu crouches down and looks deeply into Job’s eyes.
“Will your crying out for help actually keep you from trouble? Will your own strength save you? Don’t long for death to relieve your suffering. There is not more hope beyond death. Be careful that you don’t increase your own sin in an effort to relieve your suffering. God is above all and is teaching you something. Who thinks that they are entitled to tell God how to do His work or that He is wrong in what He is working in you. Remember His works. Speak of them, even in the midst of trouble. He is GREAT and we cannot even fathom the depths of His wisdom and understanding.”
Elihu stands back up and gestures with an arm across the sky.
“Consider the clouds, the rain, the thunder and the lighting. Who of man can understand the intricacies of its workings? Who of man can replicate it? Even by these He judges and blesses people with food. And the crashing of His thunder declares His presence, even to the cattle in the field!”
Elihu turns his attention to the sky. In a wistful voice he begins and his voice grows stronger with each word.
“My heart is trembling with excitement, just thinking about the thunder of the Lord’s voice. Keep listening to the thunder and you will hear His voice. He lets the lightening go and the thunder rumble, speaking of His awesome power. It calls out His name as it moves across the sky. It speaks of things we cannot understand. Then He calls for the snow to come. The animals and men know it is time to seek shelter for He brings about the cold winds and the whirlwind. His breath brings the ice and He freezes the waters. Then He fills the clouds with rain and lightening again and they scatter across the earth, accomplishing all He has commanded of them. ‘Whether for correction or for His land or for love, He causes it to happen’ (Job 37:13).”
Elihu turns his attention back to Job.
“Hear this Job! Consider the works of God. How He controls the lighting and thunder. How He drives the clouds where He wishes. Do you know how HE does this? How HE drives them and causes the lighting to flash or the clouds to shine? Do you understand the balance He has to maintain and the perfect knowledge required for this work? Can YOU do these works? Teach US what we should say to Him. Should we tell HIM what to do and what is right? Has there ever been one so bold to try this? One who is not begging to be swallowed up for his arrogance?”
Elihu looks into Jobs eyes again.
“God’s glory is brighter than the sun when the wind has driven all the clouds away. It is so bright that man cannot look on it. We have to shut our eyes, and then say that we cannot find Him. The Almighty; ‘He is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit’ (Job 37:23-24).”
Elihu stands and returns to his place. He has said all that was withing him.
(to be continued)
I’m SO GLAD I’m not God! Judging men and finding ways to get man’s attention. Speaking so they will understand; when He is beyond understanding. I agree with Elihu on the fact that Job IS in the wrong when he thinks that HE can contend with God and have ANY chance of coming out ahead. And that is why we still ask, “WHY” when bad things happen to good people. It is because HE is God and WE are NOT. It is our job to trust that HE knows what He is doing.
Father God, forgive me for EVER thinking I had ANYTHING figured out. You know ALL and I know next to nothing. What I do know is that I can trust You with my life, no matter what comes. Help me hold fast to that. Keep me trusting Lord.
