Tag: He judges justly
God is impartial!
Scripture reading for May 30: Job 32-34
“So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays a man for what he has done, he brings upon him what his conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed Him over the earth? Who put Him in charge of the whole world?” Job 34:10-13
After all the older and presumably wiser friends of Job are silent, Elihu opens his mouth to speak. Elihu is a younger man, also a friend of Job, and has been listening in on their conversations and debate. Elihu claims to be full of the Spirit of God and to have wisdom by the Spirit. (Job 32:8) He says he is sincere and has an upright heart. (Job 33:3) He acknowledges that God has made him and given him life. (Job 33:4) Elihu dares to confront Job about his complaint that God has not answered him. Elihu tells Job that God speaks in many ways and it is sometimes we who are not paying attention or listening. (Job 33:13-14) He stated that God sometimes speaks through a bed of pain, which Job was then enduring himself.
Elihu pointed out to the friends that Job had tried to justify himself. (Job 34:3-7) God was the one who should have been justified instead of Job, because God is perfect and impartial. He is always just and never does wrong! (Job 34:10-12) He gives each person what he deserves. He is in charge of the earth and no one tells Him what to do! He is not partial to rich or poor and He knows each person perfectly. (Job 34:19)
As we look at the words of this younger man, we sense that he understood God and had placed much of his understanding on a knowledge of the Almighty. The Spirit of God did give him insight that did not depend on age. Elihu had correctly discerned God’s impartiality and ability to judge each person justly. However, Elihu still didn’t have complete wisdom. He made some assumptions. One assumption was that Job was getting what was due him. As we know from the first two chapters, this was not the case. God, Himself, had declared Job righteous. In Job’s case, he was not guilty, but only being tested! This young man, Elihu, may be wise in some things, but still is short on full understanding!
What do we learn from this? We do understand that God is impartial and knows everything. We also learn that God can use pain and other means to speak to us. But, in addition, we learn that we as mortals cannot be presumptive. We do not know everything about every situation. God is sovereign and we must let Him be God! Check your own heart today and allow the Lord to set it in order! He is truly able!