Tag: Job 32-34
God shows no partiality!
Scripture reading for May 30th: 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 were silent, Elihu opened his mouth to speak. Elihu was a younger man, also a friend of Job, and had been listening in on their conversations. Elihu claimed to be full of the Spirit of God and to have wisdom by the Spirit. (Job 32:8) He said he was sincere and had an upright heart. (Job 33:3) He acknowledged that God had made him and given him life. (Job 33:4)
Elihu pointed out to Job and his friends that Job had tried to justify himself. (Job 34:3-7) God was the one who should have been justified, because God was perfect and impartial. He was always just and never did wrong! (Job 34:10-12) God gave each person what he deserved. He was in charge of the earth and needed no one to tell Him what to do! He was not partial to rich or poor and He alone knew each person perfectly. (Job 34:19)
As we look at the words of this younger man, we sense that he understood some of God’s ways. 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 one assumption: Job was getting what was due him. But God, Himself, had declared Job righteous. In Job’s case, he was not guilty, but only being tested!
God is impartial and knows everything. We 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!
We must avoid presumption!
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 wiser friends of Job were silent, Elihu spoke up. Elihu was a younger man and hah been listening in on their conversation. Elihu claimed to be full of the Spirit and to have wisdom. (Job 32:8) Elihu dared to confront Job about his complaint that God has not answered him. Elihu told Job that God had spoken in many ways and he was not listening. (Job 33:13-14) He stated that God sometimes spoke through a bed of pain, something Job was 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 was perfect and impartial. God is always just and never does wrong! (Job 34:10-12) He is not partial to rich or poor and no one tells Him what to do. (Job 34:19)
As we look at the words of this younger man, we sense that he based 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 based his assessment on the assumption was that Job was getting what was due him. God, Himself, had declared Job righteous. In Job’s case, he was not guilty, but only being tested! Elihu may have been wise in some things, but did not have full knowledge either!
We do understand that God is impartial and knows everything. He can use pain and other means to speak to us. But, in addition, we learn that as mortals, we should not be presumptive. Our observations and experience cannot tell us everything about any given 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!
Youthful Wisdom
Scripture reading for May 31st: Job 32-34
Elihu was a younger friend of Job and his friends. Elihu had been listening to the arguments between these friends and Job and had been taking notes. He was disappointed at the arguments on both sides and finally felt that he must speak. It is interesting to note that God never rebukes Elihu or asks Job to pray for him. We are not told why, but it may be that he spoke youthful wisdom by God’s Spirit! (Job 32:18; 33:3-4)
Elihu humbly appealed to Job on the basis of being made from clay just like all men. (Job 33:6) He assured Job that he was not there to beat him up or belittle him. He wanted to talk to him plainly about some of his statements that had bothered him. This approach is honest and scriptural. We should be able to discuss our differences without offense or animosity.
Job had stated that although he felt he was innocent, God had found fault with him and had shackled him with this trial. Elihu stated that God used trials to teach us. He isn’t always punishing us when we go through trials. (Job 33:14-22) He uses these to warn us and keep us from pride or wrong actions. Elihu suggested that man needs an angel or mediator to help him understand his troubles. We are often blind to the problem and need correction and prayer.
Elihu tried to be the true kind of friend who would help with understanding and correction and not bring condemnation. He invited Job to answer him or respond. He invited the friends to test his words with their ears as the tongue tastes food! (Job 34:3) Elihu stated strongly to Job and his friends his belief that God would never do wrong or evil and certainly would not pervert justice! (Job 34:10-12) God is totally impartial and governs the earth and all its inhabitants and rulers accordingly.
Elihu was young but showed great wisdom. He knew he was human and appealed to these older saints to listen. He listened before speaking and then offered his insight humbly. He recognized God’s power and His justice and knew that God worked in many ways that we sometimes don’t understand. He knew that Job needed help from God and his friends to get through this trial. Thank God today for those He sends to you with His wisdom!
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!