Read: Job 35-39
Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! Elihu should have read this before he spoke. He spoke some truth but he was out of season for Job. Elihu explained that man’s sin did not hurt God but it affected only people and the same goes for being righteous. But I have to disagree. Our sin does hurt God and his plan because God chooses to use men to work through. But, what we do doesn’t stop God’s plan because he will use someone else so in that sense, Elihu is right. Elihu also said that when the oppressed cry out that God doesn’t answer because of their pride. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says that “if” you humble yourself and cry out to God he will hear you.
Elihu was right to defend God and say that God is concerned about man and he will respond to sinners with anger. That is what judgment is all about. Elihu had some good things to say about God’s justice and care. God doesn’t take his eyes off the innocent. They will be exalted forever.
He comforted Job with this statement: “God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.”
Job’s “friends” spent their hours trying to figure out why this happened to Job so he could fix it. All their conversation could have been constructive if they had not directed it at Job. They could have praised God together instead of using God to discipline Job.
We just came out of one of the most stressful weeks I have had in years. My youngest son finally got a job and we were moving him to a new town. The apartment we were suppose to be moving right into couldn’t get back his credit check so we wandered around like Joseph and Mary looking for a place to stay. We had to get a hotel with the hope of getting in first thing the next morning. That day came and went and the hotel had no rooms for the next night so we had to drive 30 miles to the next town to get a hotel. Did I mention we had a U-haul full of their belongings and two small children? Another day of looking and finally my son said, “we can’t find anything worth living in our price range so we’ll just have to go higher.” We did and found the most wonderful townhouse on the golf course. It is the nicest place they have ever had with neighbors that have done everything to help them fit in. God went way beyond our expectation and came through when we were at our wits end. On that last day, I had lost all hope and wondered where God was and what he was up to when I just felt the urge to start singing praises to him. He is worthy of praise no matter what we are going through. Within the hour, we had found our place. I’m not saying I had anything to do with it but singing helped me from leaping into the pool of despair. I kept thinking about Job and others that I know that are going through much harder things. God does care and he does have the answer.
Lord, thank you for all the times we are faithless and that you are faithful. Thank you that you don’t hold it against us but you love us unconditionally.
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