Suggested Bible Reading: Job 32-35
Devotional Thought:
Elihu listed two of what he understood Job’s complaints to be: “God is unjust” (vs. 5-6) and “There is no profit in serving God” (vs. 7-9). He answered the first complaint in verses 10-37 and the second complaint in chapter 35. It is sad that we as Christians cannot be more sympathetic to our brothers and sisters who are struggling to understand and articulate their trials. When we are in the middle of a trial, it is often very difficult to understand why things are happening or what we should do. Christians are typically so quick to pass judgment rather than try to be compassionate. This is the case with Elihu. What he says about God is very good. However, his conclusions about Job are very wrong and hurtful. There is a difference between saying, “God is unjust,” and saying, “I don’t understand how it is just what God is doing.” There is a difference between saying, “There is no profit in serving God,” and saying, “I don’t understand why serving God brings this kind of hurt and sorrow.” Clearly Job was struggling to wrap his mind around what had happened and why had it happened? Job truly did not understand; however the inaccurate and inconsistent accusations of his “friends” were not helping even though their teaching regarding God was rather accurate. God’s assessment of Job was that in this entire situation Job sinned not with his lips and he never charged God foolishly. Though very wrong in his accusations against Job, Elihu was right about God’s justice. (1) God’s justice is never in error. God never needs to make a “judgment call.” God never needs to look at the evidence to make a decision. He knows everything about everything. (2) God’s justice is never a reaction. Verse 21 says that God is watching man and sees everything he does. God never needs more information to make a good decision. His decisions do include all the information. (3) God ‘s justice does not need defending. God never needs to answer for the decisions that He makes. He is God and He cannot make a decision that is subject to man’s approval. Chapter 35 we have Elihu explaining that it is not important that we see God, but rather that we find comfort in knowing God sees us. If we serve God to get comfort, we are still being selfish. We serve God because of Who He is. We trust what He does because of who He is. Job’s position was, “I don’t know why God is doing what He is doing.” However, Job did know, that what God was doing, was not punishing him for sinful behavior. We may not always know why God is doing what He is doing, but we can be sure that what He is doing is always right.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to always trust your heart when I cannot always trace your hand. Please help me to remember you are an infinite God and I am a very finite man.
• Lord, please remind me of your sovereignty. I may not always see you, but may I find great comfort in knowing you always see me!
• Lord, please help me to never put you on trial. You never owe me an explanation, and you never need to defend your decisions. Help me to always respond out of a heart of faith, trusting who you are and accepting what you have done or are asking me to do.