Job 34:1-4 - Then Elihu said: "Hear my words, you wise men; listen to
me, you men of learning. For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes
food. Let us discern for
ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.”
Elihu continued his harsh words to Job. He continued to condemn him for his desperate
cries for answers to why no one would believe his innocence. Elihu heard Job’s insistent
pleas as blasphemy…rebellion…and arrogance to God. Elihu clung to the narrow minded
views of man that all tragedy befalling man was the result of some sin in their
life….therefore Job must be hiding some sin.
Elihu had one correct point…we do need to listen…and discern
for ourselves what is right. But Elihu
was depending on man’s understanding of what the word ‘right’ meant. He dealt in generalities…never even entertaining
in his heart that Job might just be telling the truth. He thought he was wise…but
he did not stop once to ask God for guidance and wisdom to share with Job.
God had simply not revealed to man in this time that
everything bad that happens to us is not always the result of sin in our
life. Even the leaders of the Israelites
in later time clung to this misconception. John 9:3 clearly records Jesus’
words…when the disciples asked the son of man…and he replied… "Neither
this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so
that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
Oh what comfort it would have brought to Job’s heart if God
had chosen this time to reveal the great truth he allowed Jesus to reveal to
the disciples. But it was not the right
time for God to reveal this yet….and Job could merely cling to the feeling in
his heart that God was somewhere close by…and was still making choices for his
life. Job wasn’t being rebellious by simply asking God to help him understand.
Job was not in the wrong to cry out for answers to his pain. What Elihu perceived
as blaspheme and arrogance…were just desperate cries of faith to God…from a
heart that wanted to understand the purpose for his pain.
Perhaps the thread that kept Job from falling completely as he
suffered were the words of David in Psalms 145:17-18 …. “The LORD is
righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The LORD is near
to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” He knew God wasn’t gone from his life…even as
he felt the emptiness around him. He knew
that God had made some choice he couldn’t understand…and like Jacob in Genesis
32…he was not going to let go until God finally saw fit to explain it to him.
Father…thank you for reminding me that you never leave our
side….all I have to do is look down to see the second set of footprints walking
next to mine to see you. Help me to accept all the choices you have made for me
in life…and see them as opportunities to learn about you. Help me to see the things that cause me pain
like Job …as ways to grow closer to your perfect will for my life. Teach
me the true meaning of ‘right’ and ‘good’…so I can always have your definition
in my head and heart to help me make the choices that you would have me make.
Amen.
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