A STUDY IN JOB - Part 4

In our continuing study of Job, we come to the fourth "friend," Elihu.

Elihu stayed out of the fray until the other had exhausted themselves.

Then he stepped in.

We're not sure what he stepped in, but it sure made a mess of things.

Here is how it went:

CHAPTER 32 AND FOLLOWING

Chapter 32 Elihu’s discourse.


He is a Buzite — Buz was evidently an Arab tribe (Genesis 22:21).

Elihu has been one of the auditors to this contest.


He has kept silent because of his youth, though he wanted to speak.

When the three friends have nothing more to say and have lost the contest, Elihu is angry because:


He feels that Job justified himself and condemned God (v. 2). (He had not, of course.)

He feels that the three friends of Job have failed to answer him adequately.


When Elihu finally speaks, he speaks longer than any of the three friends or Job (chapters 32 — 37).

Chapter 33


Elihu maintains that:

God is right in all that He does; (He is, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)


God created man (v. 4); (He did, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)

God is responsible to no one (v. 13); (He isn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)


God speaks to man by dreams and visions [before He gave a written revelation] (vv. 14, 15); (He sometimes does, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)

God instructs men through discipline (vv. 29, 30). (Sometimes He does, but that is not Elihu's point)


Notice that he suggests the reason for the Incarnation (vv. 6, 7).

Chapter 34


Elihu declares that God never acts wickedly nor commits wrong acts (v. 12). (He doesn't, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)

Chapter 35


Elihu reproves Job for inferring that he is more righteous than God (v. 2). (Job did not do that.)

God is teaching Job a lesson, and both Job and his friends missed this truth (vv. 10-12).


Chapter 36

God is the great Teacher (v. 22).


It was said of Jesus, "Never man spoke like this man" [John 7:46].

Chapter 37


Elihu infers that God is too far removed for man to communicate with Him (vv. 22, 23). (Absolutely not true)

However, it is not the greatness and majesty of God that has separated man from Him; it is man’s sin that has caused the disruption (see Isaiah 59:1, 2). (True, of course, but that is not Elihu's point)

In all of this, Elihu has been using truths, half-truths and untruths, to beat Job over the head as though he were guilty.

But at the beginning, God said Job was blameless.

Either God was right, or He is not God.

He is God.


Chapter 38

God breaks through and speaks to Job.


During the entire dialogue a storm has been gathering on the horizon. At this point, it breaks with fury.

The crowd scatters and scurries for cover, leaving Job alone with God (v. 1).


Both Job and Elihu had obscured truth with their theories and ideas (v. 2).

God’s appeal to Job is on the basis of His role as Creator.


Remember that this was before there was any written revelation (v. 4).

(Compare Romans 1:19, 20. )


This is a good introduction for every book on geology and origins.

This response (v. 7) predates the creation of man. Actually, man is a "Johnny-come-lately" in God’s universe.

What did the writer of Job or Job himself know about the beauty of a snowflake (vv. 22, 23)?



Chapter 39

God’s wisdom, person, and power are revealed in creation.

Chapter 40


God now demands Job to answer Him (vv. 1, 2).

Job begins to see himself in the light of God’s presence — he is vile.


Job becomes suddenly silent (vv. 3-5).

The storm breaks in all of its fury and God speaks out of the whirlwind. He continues His appeal through creation (v. 6).


Chapter 41


God continues to quiz Job relative to His acts of creation.