Learning from Elihu

The only speaker in the book of Job not to get reprimanded by God

The story of Job in the Bible is at least somewhat familiar to many. I find it interesting that it occurs, chronologically, early, before or around the time of Abraham. God placed this story early in history so that we might learn from it ever after.

God Himself said of Job, “there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” When Satan appeared before Him, reporting that he had been “roaming about on the earth and walking around on it,” God asked him if he had considered His servant Job. Satan challenged God that if He allowed him to take “‘all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.’” God allowed Satan to take Job’s ten children and all his wealth, but through “all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” So Satan challenged God to let him take Job’s health, which God allowed. Despite this, Job declared, “‘Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

The bulk of the book of Job is his conversations with three of his friends. They initially come to comfort him, but when Job finally opens his mouth in lament, his friends cannot resist speaking. In three rounds of conversation, Job basically asserts his integrity and acknowledges God’s sovereignty and his dependence on Him, but he demands the ability to question God. Job’s friends fall into the easy trap of believing that Job must be guilty of some sin he is unwilling to confess, or else he wouldn’t be suffering. I love Job’s convicting rebuke to those of us who are tempted to talk much when quiet empathy would be better: “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty,” and “the words of one in despair belong to the wind” (Job 6:14, 26b).

Finally, after three rounds of conversation between Job and his friends, Job gives such a long answer that all three of them are silenced. It is then that Elihu, the youngest, who had remained quiet out of respect for his elders, speaks. He is angry at Job, “because he justified himself before God,” and at the three friends, “because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.”

God famously speaks at the end of Job. Job and all three of his friends receive rebukes. Elihu does not. The whole book of Job must be read with discernment because we learn that God does not approve of all that is said, but I read Elihu’s words with great interest because he did not receive a rebuke from God for them. Elihu rebuked Job for complaining against God. He acknowledged God’s sovereignty over all things: “Whether for correction, or for His world, Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen” (Job 37:13). He submitted that suffering is an opportunity for all of us to cry out to God, but shared some great warnings against pride or insincerity in doing so: “they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it” (Job 35:13). The “godless in heart lay up anger; They do not cry for help when He binds them” (Job 36:13). Finally, “[a]round God is awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find Him; He is exalted in power And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness. Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise of heart” (Job 37:23-24).

In the midst of Elihu’s words, I found a warning relevant for current times: “Judgment and justice take hold of you. Beware that wrath does not entice you to scoffing” (Job 36:17b-18a). Let us acknowledge the abundance of scoffing that is occurring in our current era, especially amongst Christians. I invite plain rebuke about which the Bible is clear, but let us also acknowledge the exhausting amount of material produced to convince me that my actions or politics are wrong when there is not Biblical clarity to support such assertions. “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4). “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). I pray to walk in humility, seeking God for Him to correct me when I am wrong. And I pray for relationships characterized by kindness, absent of scoffing, for I am quite convicted that the “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).