Talk About An Introduction!

“My heart pounds as I think of this. It trembles within me. Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth. It rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes in every direction. Then comes the roaring of the thunder— the tremendous voice of his majesty. He does not restrain it when he speaks. God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power. [Job 37.1-5]

How brilliant that Elihu would use lightning and thunder in his conversation about God.

What really stands out though, as we will see in tomorrow's OYCB reading, is that Elihu's talk about the weather was more than just an analogy using the weather. Chapter 38 of Job begins with this:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: [Job 38.1]

Elihu's speech was quite literally an introduction of God! Elihu presented God to Job much the way a master of ceremonies presents a keynote speaker at a convention! It makes me believe that during Elihu's speech a thunderstorm ensued. There is good reason to conclude that Elihu's reference to the weather was inspired by an approaching storm. Imagine for a moment what that might have looked like! Elihu is delivering his speech. Clouds begin to roll in with shifting winds. Lightning begins to flash in the distance with a delayed report of thunder. Soon the storm is upon them in the height of Elihu's speech and he steps aside then to make way for God to speak:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: [Job 38.1]

Talk about an introduction! What a confirmation of the truth and accuracy of Elihu's speech! Wow!

Perhaps my imagination is running away with me, but who can dispute it? God began to speak to Job from a tornado! Why would we think He would speak from anything else as far as weather goes? Some astute Bible scholars will immediately begin to think of 1 Kings 19 where God spoke to Elijah from a still small voice. But, here's the deal, God was not rebuking Elijah in 1 Kings but He was rebuking Job beginning in Job 38!

This brings up an important fact about God! He speaks to us in at least two different ways: in terrifying displays of natural power when we are in pride and sin; or in a still small voice when we are just getting direction from Him. Job's case was one of pride and sin and so God spoke to him through pain, loss, and finally a tornado.

But, back to Elihu...

What a preacher Elihu was! Preachers today long for God to show up to their meetings and here we see Elihu's speech set the stage for God to appear and speak from a tornado!

What does this mean? I think it means there is something to pay particular close attention to here! Elihu's speech was accurate enough that God would appear immediately following it. I think this should convince us that, regardless what all Job and his three friends said, Elihu's speech provides reliable information. This coupled with the fact that God did not refute anything Elihu said (as He did Job and the three friends) should confirm to us that Elihu spoke accurately by the Spirit of God.

So Job 38 begins God's rebuke of Job (in tomorrow's OYCB reading). We can be sure that what God says to Job is relevant!

Father, I am thrilled in my heart that You are speaking to me through Job's story as I am reading it again this year. No matter how much I felt I learned in the past, You are filling me with more now - and it is good. Thank You! And, please, help me to take Job's story personally to understand circumstances and the sin of pride as they relate to my life.