January 28 - Job 32:1-34:37

Good morning everyone, 

Today as we continue through Job, I would encourage you to use your mind’s eye to get a vision for what this scene looks like. Job and his friends have all been sitting in a fairly public place and their dialog, which undoubtedly included the raising of voices in emphasis was impossible to not notice. Curious bystanders have stopped, perhaps propping themselves up on a wall or copping a squat on a nearby rock to listen in. 

Now, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar are done speaking, they have nothing more to say. Job himself is sitting there in silence at this point, however, amongst the crowd sat Elihu, who was just about ready to burst for want to speak. Elihu was a younger lad, apparently unknown to the others as he listed his bloodline to be the son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, making him a descendant of Abraham. Elihu is pretty annoyed with what he has heard. Four times he talks about his wrath being kindled however to his credit, he was most respectful in allowing the “older” gentlemen to finish what they had to say before he jumped right in.

Elihu introduces a new point of view, stating that Job’s suffering would not go away until he  realized his present sin.  He maintained that Job wasn’t suffering because of sin rather he was sinning because of his suffering. Make sense? He pointed out that Job’s attitude had become arrogant as he tried to defend his innocence and that suffering is not meant to punish us as much as it is meant to correct and restore us. 

At the end of chapter 33 Elihu says to Job, “If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want to vindicate you. But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.” Hmmm, I say. Since Job did not speak up when Elihu offered him the opportunity, this young whipper snapper continued on. The primary point of his speech in chapter 34 is to defend God’s righteousness against Job’s complaint. Elihu especially emphasizes the fact that God does not show partiality in judgment. He seems to fear that Job would or perhaps had already rejected God’s discipline of suffering. If so, Job would face God’s final punishment of death, an end Elihu hoped could be avoided. 

You know, aside from his arrogance and a little bit of false witness, Elihu spoke well. It for sure was a learning experience for the boy. Agreed? I think what we can take from this is, pain has a purpose and none of us are immune. Every hero in the Bible suffered at one point, and who suffered more than Jesus? If Jesus suffered, which he did voluntarily, God surely suffered, as well. But, again, that is the process of redemption. The question is; How will you cope with it? Will you turn away from God in anger or will you allow the experience to draw you closer to our God, our Abba?

Psalm 73:28 says, “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Friends, keep God close, make Him your hearts desire. Believe in His unfailing love and His perfect, though sometimes painful, plan. “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..