Job 35-37

Job 35


Elihu brings up the point "Does our sin bring God harm?" While Elihu says "No", I really believe that our sin may not physically harm God... but it breaks His heart, so in a sense--- yes, sin does harm God. It may not harm Him in the way that Elihu is speaking of, but our sin does affect our walk with God..thus, affecting Him. God may not *need* us, but He definitely wants us!


In verses 8-10, Elihu is confusing me. He says: "Others suffer from your sins, and the good you do helps them. 9 When people are oppressed, they groan; they cry for someone to save them. 10 But they don't turn to God, their Creator, who gives them hope in their darkest hours." I know I may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but why wouldn't you turn to your Creator if you find yourself in a dark hour with no hope?


What stops them is pride... Pride keeps us from turning to God. While Elihu says Job is not to complain to God, at the same time he speaks about people who do not ask for God's help..He goes so far to say that it is useless for such people to cry out to God. 


While Elihu thinks he knows Job well, he does not. Job has been calling out to God.. Pleading with God for his help. God punishes sin, but they do not know that Job is not at fault here. Elihu may think that he is the wisest of them all, but he really is not. He is just not showing the wisdom he possesses, on the other hand--he is showing what he lacks.


Job 36


What really bugs me is how Elihu keeps talking about what he knows, because his "... knowledge is so wide." Yet he is talking about other people's pride? Doesn't he need to look at himself, and his own pride issue? "My knowledge is wide"--while I know he is trying to help his friend, but I cannot help but think about how he is speaking.


Elihu thinks he is speaking on God's behalf. I cannot wait to see if God says something directly to Elihu, or if he lets his words pass. According to Elihu, if one has afflictions---it is because of their great sins they have committed. He thinks he is "ascribing justice" on God's behalf. As he thinks that sins result in affliction, if they repent of their sins, "If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. " If we obey Him and serve, there is no guarantee we will live in contentment. Accepting Him means accepting going against the ways of the world. It excludes prosperity, because we will not necessarily be prosperous. Even if we are poor, it does not mean we are not serving and obeying our great God!


Elihu says "But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction." (verse 15) I believe this can be true. But it depends on how you define "deliver". God, sometimes, delivers us in ways we can only dream of, but our trials and testing stay. He delivers us from the spiritual brokenness and depletion that comes from physical ailments. He speaks directly to us in our times of brokenness.


Who can understand God? He is beyond our understanding! He is just too great! Elihu needs to quit trying to speak on God's behalf. Let God speak for himself..


Job 37


Elihu is teaching his friends and Job to listen...listen to God and the thunder of his voice. God does not hold anything back. He is the only One to tell and teach us what He truly thinks. We cannot truly understand Him. Our friends cannot truly speak on God's behalf. Only God can speak on His own behalf! Many people may try, but they will sometimes fail. This is why we have the Word of God to turn to. These men did not have God's Word, and they failed miserably at comforting Job in his darkest hours!


Elihu tells Job to stop and consider God's wonders. God shows His love by bringing rain. God does things we cannot even imagine or come close to understanding. We need to quit living such busy lives, and consider God's wonders even amidst great trials.


One of the things Elihu closes with is: "The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; 
   in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress." (verse 23) God is definitely beyond our reach. We cannot explain God or what He does, yet these men try to explain Him and justify why they feel Job is in sin.. God does not oppress, but trials do come.. things do oppress us, and yet it is not from God.