“Why don’t people say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I will sin no more’? Or ‘I don’t know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once’? [Job 34.31-32]
Job chapters 32 through 37 are the words of Elihu. Elihu is not one of Job's three friends. It would seem that Elihu was younger than Job and the three friends and rightfully so remained silent for all that they said.
The interesting thing about Elihu is that of all the characters in Job's story, he is the ONLY one who was NOT rebuked by God and required to repent. In other words, Elihu spoke accurately about God!
The subject verse above sums up the problem and solution for Job's dilemma.
The subject verse above sums up the problem and solution for OUR dilemmas.
The curses upon Job's life were no mistake. They were not random. In Job 32-37, Elihu points this out very clearly. And, again, he didn't get rebuked for what he said because what he said was right.
Job 32.2-3 sums up Job's and his friends' error:
Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. [Job 32.2-3]
The mistake made by Job and his three friends has proven to be a time-enduring fault in people who believe in God. Pride has done more to confuse pure and right religion than any other thing. Pride caused Job to refuse to acknowledge he had done wrong and pride caused his three friends to refuse to admit they were clueless.
In contrast, Elihu was not ignorant of the fact that curses are NEVER random.
For Job also said, ‘I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights. I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.’ “Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk? [Job 34.5-7]
The book of Job is NOT mysterious! It clearly points out Job's irreverent claim to innocence and denial that suffering is God's call to repentance. And that is precisely why people today "choke" on the book of Job: because people today are in just as much denial of their sin and ignorance of God's Word as were Job and the three friends!
No other book of the Bible is as focused on the pride problem in humanity as is the book of Job. Likewise, no other book of the Bible is as focused on the ignorance problem in humanity (ignorance of God's Word), as is the book of Job.
It is much more convenient and comfortable to declare Job's story "mysterious" - to declare God "mysterious" - than it is to simply confess that sin causes curses and, if curses come, then the only option is to humbly repent. Oh, the error-laden religious pages that have been written and the deceptive sermons and teachings promoted in eternally damnable defense of man's innocence!
Here is some wisdom from Proverbs:
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. [Proverbs 16.2]
Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. [Proverbs 26.2]
Never has the call to repentance been more appropriate! How far has the Church wandered from the truth of God's Word? How far has the Church strayed from Jesus' command to repent? Yes, Jesus' command to repent:
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 4.17]
Can we not see that even in New Testament times, people are STILL in denial of sin and refusing to repent? We proudly declare, "Jesus!" while not enjoying Jesus' deliverance from curses! This is a mockery of the Cross and the Savior Who died upon it! YES, Jesus redeemed us from curses, but being redeemed from curses is NOT an abstract thing, but instead it is being saved, healed and delivered!
THINK! What happened when Job repented? HE WAS RESTORED IN EVERY WAY!
We must understand and acknowledge that we have some repenting to do! There is no lack for curses upon our own lives and upon the lives of those around us. Will we take to heart the truth of Job's story? Will we humbly acknowledge our guilt (regardless if we know what it is)? Will we accurately represent God (to those around us)? The sad, and eternally damnable answer to these questions is overwhelmingly, "no."
Job's story is a stark reminder however for us to be humble before God and to be informed about God. Job's story is as simple as it gets! But, proud and ignorant religion has greatly twisted and confused Job's otherwise clear message because it just doesn't fit the unrepentant and ignorant model of modern religion. Naysayers abound, and sadly, their greatest platform is the Church.
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