Pay Attention To The Question

“Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin! The Almighty can do no wrong. He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve. Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice. [Job 34.10-12]

So, where did Elihu come from? It seems he was a younger observer to Job's and his friends' arguments. Because he was younger, he kept quiet and listened. Because he was younger, he waited to speak until the "big people" had said completed their discourse. But boy, when he finally spoke, he genuinely seems to have had an accurate understanding of the situation.

With that said, Elihu made a profound declaration of God's character in the passage noted above. Namely, that God is Just.

I think the reason Job's story is so confusing to us today is that we simply cannot (or will not) comprehend that tragedies like Job experienced are curses set in motion by sin. The writer of the Proverbs understood and described it well:

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. [Proverbs 26.2]

In other words, curses don't come for no reason! Curses are not random. Job's condition, although appearing to have been undeserved, WAS deserved because Job had otherwise unseen pride lodged deep in his heart.

But didn't God call Job righteous? Yes, God did call Job righteous, but we must consider the context of that conversation... God made his statement about Job in a question to Satan! 

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” [Job 1.8]

Think about it, God NEVER asked anyone a question that He didn't already know the answer! God asked Satan, "Have you noticed Job...?" Of course God knew the answer and the answer was that Satan had NOT accurately noticed (other translations say, "considered") Job. God's questions are always designed to cause the person being questioned to consider their circumstance! Satan's circumstance was that he had incorrectly judged that Job was protected because Satan, incapable of knowing the hidden things in Job's heart (pride), could only see "righteousness." And, the rest is history!

I understand that this is all difficult to process. However, unless we take a staunch stand regarding God's character (as Elihu did in the passage noted above), we will be vulnerable to all sorts of erroneous beliefs about God and the story of Job.

Father, help us to know You and Your character to the point that we never question Your motives!