Elihu

Excellent in Power and in Judgment

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict. Men do therefore fear Him: He respecteth not any that are wise of heart.” Job 37:23-24 (KJV)

The three friends of Job have spoken. Job has finished his speaking. Now a fourth man; who is the younger of the other four; now speaks. Job 32-37 covers the speeches of Elihu.

We know nothing much of him except he was a Buzite, of the kindred of Ram. Does not tell us much. We can tell that he is ignorant of the events of heaven in chapters one and two. We know this because he is still accusing Job of unrighteousness which God has not.

One thing I like about Elihu is that most of what he says seems to exalt the Almighty, as in these final words of his speeches.

Reminds me of some of the apostle Paul’s words that God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25), and that of the apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:17).

Elihu, though young, and verbose reminds us that this story in Job’s name, and these events are not really about Job; but about the Almighty God.

The events, challenges, trials, friends, enemies, good times, bad times are not about me; they are about the work of God in me. He is working to make me more into His image and likeness (Romans 8:29). The likeness of His Son Jesus Christ who bled and died on the cross for our sins.

Day 35 – Job Rebuked by GOD

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

I would probably call it “sarcasm”.  The voice of the LORD answers Job, “Out of the whirlwind”; and asks Job a lot of questions which seem to have a lot of sarcasm in them.  “Sarcasm” is defined in the Mirriam/Webster Dictionary as “1 a cutting, contemptuous remark: 2 Ironical criticism or reproach”.  The latter one being the better understanding of God’s rebuke of Job.

My reading today was from Job 38 – Psalms 9.  We will comment on Job alone.

Chapter 37 ended all the comments by the friends of Job.  Job’s comments have ended as well.  God has been silent up until chapter 38, then He speaks with sarcastic rebuke.  I say it is sarcasm because of the way God questions Job.  For instance,

“Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” 38:2

The LORD is clearly speaking to Job.  It is not even clear if his friends; Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are still around; or their friend Elihu.  Another question God asks Job,

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.” v. 4

Of course God knows the answers to these questions and Job’s final response is found,

“Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,  ‘Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.’  Then Job answered the LORD, and said,  ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.  Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”  Job 40:1-5 (KJV)

Job had spent hours defending himself before his friends; what he would do if he were given a chance to stand before the LORD, and argue his case with Him.  Now God is speaking to him, and he clamps his hand over his mouth to silence himself.  There are many questions we all have stated that we would like to ask the LORD when we see Him face to face.  My thought on that is; especially after looking at Job’s response; is that ours will be very similar.  Just His sight and His presence will answer it all for us.

There have been, and some just recently; tornadoes and storms which have wreaked out devastation throughout the U. S. of A.  Lives have been lost.  One whole family of five lost their lives in one city.  Questions abound.  One of which in these cases is, “Where was God when all these tragedies took place?” or “Why doesn’t God put an end to all this chaos, even of evil?”  If you will notice; From where did God speak to Job? “Out of the whirlwind”.  At least twice this is said in 38:1 and 40:6.

Where was God in all these tragedies?  He speaks from out of them.  We need to listen.  Why doesn’t God put an end to all this chaos and evil?  I used to ask that question a lot, then one day in a still small voice I heard the Lord say in my heart, “If I ridded the world of evil, I would rid the world of you.”  I have not asked the question since, except of course to tell about it.  I thank Him for His wonderful grace.  His grace and mercy has allowed that more have not died, than could have.

God reminds Job of two creatures He has made.  The “behemoth”, and the “leviathan”.  Now some interpreters interpret these creatures as being a hippopotamus and a crocodile.  The description it gives is too immense to be either.  There are some scholars who put the book of Job as written earlier than the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy).  There are some; of whom I am one; who believe these creatures are of the time of, what we call, the dinosaurs.  The behemoth could be that one large one with the long neck reaching to the tops of trees, with the large tail dragging on the ground some of the time.  The other sounds like some sort of creature which breaths fire.  These are both extinct now, as far as we know.

Some of you may laugh, but God’s word is true.  And, if God gives us evidence that men were on earth with the dinosaurs, then we better take heed to it.

In the end Job is back, right with God and with his friends.  His friends are told by God to take a sacrifice for themselves, Job would pray for them, and God would forgive them too.  We are also told that God gave Job twice what he had before.  He even had seven more sons and three more daughters.

A point is made in verse 15 of chapter 42,

“And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.”

Even Job was able to see the plan of God to make all one in Christ Jesus,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galations 3:28-29 (KJV)

Job was soundly rebuked by God, and shown the ridiculousness of his questions and charges.  Trust God, believe Him.  He sees a larger picture than you or I do.

-Tim A. Blankenship

Day 34 – The Confidence of Job

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Confidence is a good thing to have.  Confidence is defined in The Mirriam/Webster Dictionary as, “Trust, reliance”; 2. SELF ASSURANCE, BOLDNESS; 3. a state of trust or intimacy”.  Job had confidence that he was in the right with God, and no one was going to change his mind.  Not his three friends. Not the young man who comes on the scene later [Elihu]; and it would almost sound as though, even God would have a hard time convincing Job of any wrong doing on his part.

Today’s reading consisted of Job 24 – 37.  There are only three characters who speak in these 14 chapters.  Job’s speech following Eliphaz’s final address continues in chapter 24.  In chapter 25 Bildad gives us a final speech of short duration.  The friends have run out of steam it seems.  The remaining chapters are taken by Job (26-31), and we see some words of wisdom and knowledge from his words; such as involving science;

“He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” 26:7 (KJV)

I include this to show that his faith in God has not wavered, and that it was known at that time that the earth was not suspended by some guy holding the earth on his shoulders, standing on a turtle, swimming in some cosmic sea.  Job even goes into some details about the clouds and rain in chapter 26; and the oceans of the world, and their boundaries.  He attributes these things all to the hands of God. “But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (26:14b).

Job knows from whence all things come.  He even attributes wisdom and knowledge as coming from God, the LORD.  That wisdom is greater than “rubies” (28:18).  He assures the reader that the fear of the Lord is wisdom,

“And unto man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'” 28:28

Chapters 32 – 37 are given to a young man who has evidently been standing by listening to  the words of all four of these elder men; keeping silent himself, and waiting for an opportunity to speak.  His name is Elihu; and he does seem wise for his younger years, yet he is probably ignorant of Job’s life and works.

Elihu seems a bit arrogant in some of his talk.  Of course you can see an arrogance in the four elder men and their responses as well.  It is amazing how when men get together, myself included, that talk keeps on getting louder, bolder, and more braggadocios.  Often when stories are being shared and told, the next one has to be even better.  It can be that way with the spiritual matters as well; if we are not cautious.

Were Elihu’s words helpful?  In his words he does magnify the LORD.  He shows us the difficulty of knowing God, especially in our own ways in 37:23,

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict.” 37:23

By the word of God we are told that no man can see God and live.  If we were to turn our opened eyes toward the glowing, glaring noon day sun we would be blinded by its rays.  How can we see God?

Job was confident that he would one day see God, through a mediator, and dear reader our Mediator is Christ Jesus.

Job had confidence in God.  His faith was in God.  There is yet one character in this story of Job to speak; His name is the name that is above every name. He is GOD.  The Lord willing we will hear those words next time.

Be careful to listen as He speaks to you today; hear Him and do His will.

-Tim A. Blankenship