Today in God's Word—June 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
June 30, Job 35
”If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?"
- Elihu, Job 35:6-7
Perhaps you've been involved in a conversation with someone who did not listen to what you said. Instead of listening, he was thinking about what he wanted to say next. Maybe you've been that person who's not really paying attention to the other person's words because you're too busy thinking about your next comment. I might just be telling on myself, but I doubt it.
Elihu's remarks in Chapter 35 and in the surrounding chapters bear telltale signs that the verbose young man had not listened to what Job said. He surely misquoted Job, attributing words to Job that he never spoke. It's easier to make up a straw man, write his lines and then answer them than it is to pay attention and try to understand what the real person sitting across from you has said.
Elihu denied some of the Bible’s clearest teachings because of his faulty ideas about God. He maintained that our conduct, good or bad, had no effect on God at all. He claimed that God was not adversely affected by our sins, nor was he profited in any way by our righteousness. He said our conduct may impact fellow humans, but not God. Elihu claimed that people do not really cry out to God in faith, but only in fear. He said that suffering was why people cried out to God, not their adoration and praise of the Lord. He dismissed as empty talk Job's cries to approach and speak to God. He said they were just multiplied words without knowledge.
Job had expressed his deep desire to gain a hearing with God. He was confident that God would search him and find him just and innocent of the charges against him. None of that matches what Elihu suggested about Job.
There is one beautiful jewel in all of Elihu's rant in this chapter. For all his misrepresentation of God, he did paint one beautiful and encouraging word picture of God. He said that none of those who were crying out in trouble ever asked, "Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night?" Isn’t that a great description of God? It’s not hard to sing in the bright sunshine. But singing praise to God is not what people naturally do in the dark, troubled places of life. In the darkest night of our distress, God and our trust in him can give us songs of faith and courage to face and overcome adversity, and to bear up under distressing burdens. When a brave saint of God sings such songs to the threatening darkness that swirls around him, he helps himself, others who may hear his songs, and gives glory to God.
I can think of no better reply to Elihu's error about a disinterested God than the cross of Christ. Truly, as the best known verse in the Bible says, "For God so loved...." As Jesus described his mission, he came "to serve and to give his life a ransom for many." Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and promised return, prove that God was quite affected by our sin. He saved us when we were unable to save ourselves.
The Bible says God hears and answers prayers, regardless of what Elihu claimed. God is neither distanced nor disinterested. He knows, loves, sees and cares. God himself will say that the friends had not spoken what was right about him. I'm very thankful that our God is not the one Elihu described. Aren't you?
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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