Through the Bible: JobSample
“Who is your Elihu?”
God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like him?
Job 36:22 (ESV)
As we read through these chapters, we find the appearance of Elihu in the life of Job. He is quite an enigmatic character in a difficult book. Although there are several interpretations of the role of Elihu based on what he said of Job, what we observe is that in the end, he is the forerunner who prepares Job for God’s appearance.
Elihu, despite being young, was able to speak into Job’s life, directing his focus towards the magnificence of God. While admonishing Job, he was turning his attention to the fact that despite Job’s sufferings, the sovereignty and goodness of God are never diminished.
God puts people in our lives many times to help us direct our focus on God and see things from God’s perspective, especially when things don’t go as we plan. We still need the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit in discerning the voice of God through these people.
It is essential to prayerfully ask the Lord to show us who that Elihu is in our life.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me identify those people whom You allow to speak into my situations and make the right choices through the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.
About this Plan
Job demands a confrontation with God to know why He allows suffering, but finds himself only to receive condemnation from his three friends who conclude that suffering is the result of sins. Elihu rebukes them all by stressing the value in suffering instead. Finally, God speaks and assures His sovereignty amidst man’s suffering. Though the question “why” remains unanswered, Job’s repentance and restoration signify that victory over suffering will come.
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