January 28 - Job 32:1-34:37

Good morning everyone,

Today we will begin our reading with someone new on the scene, Elihu, who has apparently been there to listen in on the dialog going back and forth between Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and  Job. Elihu is younger than the others and a bit conceited or some would say cocky. Having said that, out of respect he has waited for the older men to weigh in with their thoughts before speaking but then makes a point in saying “it is not only the old who are wise and understand what is right”. He will rebuke the  three friends for not being able to give Job a reasonable answer for why he was suffering, but he himself gives only a partial answer by saying that people cannot understand all that God allows but must just trust Him.

In chapter 33 Elihu, in an effort to make this a more personal conversation calls Job by name, something the three friends did not do. Elihu tries to reassure Job by telling him that he, Elihu, speaks with sincerity and truth and that Job should not fear him, however, with all the many good points Elihu will make, it doesn’t take long before the tune changes from one of endearment to one of accusing. In verse 9 Elihu will essentially bare false witness by telling Job “ you said, ‘ I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no quilt’ “ Well, Job never said that, it was Zophar who said those words to Job. Job never said he was without sin he merely said that there is no specific sin that has caused this specific suffering. It would be like, well, picture this, I have been asked to supply 48 cookies for a party. I bake them and leave them on the counter in the kitchen to cool. A little while later I go to put them in a box to deliver them and find on the counter 40 cookies only. Now my husband, who loves warm cookies, has been known, from time to time, to help himself whenever he sees them sitting there. A guilty cookie snatcher he can be! (which I am totally okay with btw), however on this particular day he is miles away in another state and couldn’t possibly have taken the missing cookies, he is innocent of this particular snatching. To draw the parallel, is he guilty of ever snitching a cookie? Why, yes he is. He is NOT a guiltless cookie snatching kind of guy. Is he guilty in this case? No, he is blameless here and does not deserve to be accused. Does that make sense? Job knows he has sinned in the past but maintains he is blameless in the sufferings which are now being heaped upon him.

In chapter 34 Elihu will again falsely accuse Job but will come back with a totally accurate account of God’s qualities and actions. Sadly by the end of the chapter he too is totally in Job’s face, telling Job that he ought to be tested further because of the wicked ways he, Job, has talked.

It is crazy sometimes how everybody seems to have all the answers. I guess we need to ask the question to what extent was Elihu correct? Certainly he was accurate in speaking to God’s authority, control and power, even Job argued for those truths, however, none of the five men, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu or Job knew of the contest going on in heaven between God and Satan. In order to defend God, what made the most sense to Elihu and the others was to assume Job was lying about his innocence. 

As Christians it can sometimes get so frustrating for us as well when sharing the gospel. We know God’s truth, we know God’s promises, we know the end of the story; so when those we love or even those we don’t love, refuse to listen, refuse to believe it can be heartbreaking. It is in those times we must exercise our faith and pray. Plant those seeds, water them from time to time and ask God to grow them.

1 John 5:14 says  “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” and 

John 14:14 encourages us with “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” 

To God be the glory!

I pray you have a great day.

God bless you all …