Sayre Woods Bible Church

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. (Job 42:1-3)

“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” That to me summarizes the book of Job. There are certain things in life that we simply do not understand, things that are beyond our mental grasp. Though we may like to figure everything out, sometimes we can’t. And it takes humility to say, “This one is beyond me. I have to trust God in this situation because I can’t figure it out on my own.”

In Job’s case, his suffering did not make sense. How do you process losing everything you possess and everything dear to you in the span of fifteen minutes? How do you deal with the grief of losing all of your children in one day while you are doing everything you can to serve God and follow Him? These things make no sense. What can we learn from this?

My suffering does not always make sense. Sometimes there are fairly clear reasons why we suffer. If I get burnt while trying to delicately remove pizza from a hot oven without an oven mitt, then it is pretty obvious why I am suffering–because of my own foolish choices. But sometimes we suffer for no apparent reasons. We can be living for God, doing what is right, helping others, and still get hit with a major trial or tragedy. These times do not make sense and often seem grossly unfair. However, in the midst of such a trial, we must remember that God is control, and then pray for His help, listen for His voice, wait on His timing, and trust in His grace.

The suffering of others does not always make sense. Job’s words–”surely I spoke of things I did not understand”–also apply to his friends. Their biggest mistake was presuming to know why Job suffered and arrogantly analyzing Job’s situation. They “spoke of things they did not understand” as if they did. It is a reminder to me to exercise humility in dealing with others. I do not know their lives. I do not know their hearts. I do not know how God is working in their lives. Therefore, I should always see others through eyes of humility and grace…even when they are in the midst of sin. Brethren, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1).

There is a part of us that can find a faint sense of satisfaction when others suffer or fail. “Aha, I knew they weren’t so great. They thought they were so special. Now God is finally getting them.” How arrogant. I think the envy of Job’s friends of his early successes in life made them all too eager to nitpick his life when suffering hit. We have to be careful because this same sinful heart abides in us. When we find smug satisfaction in another’s sufferings, we need to declare with Job, “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

Hope can only be found in God. Finally Job learned, “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” God’s plan will succeed. He is in control. And He has promised that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). It may not make sense now. But it will make sense one day. God makes no mistakes. No trial in our life is wasted. And nothing we may lose in this life can compare with that which we will gain in the end.

Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!  (Job 38:16-21)

God finally speaks in chapter 38. After 36 chapters of dialogue, lament, philosophizing, debate, speculation, misapplied theology, questions, challenges, and rebukes, God finally enters the scene and speaks to Job. I am not sure the others heard God’s speech or not. The assumption is that they did not. Somehow God spoke to Job one-on-one…perhaps through a dream, vision, or audible voice. Whatever the case, Job hears God.

God’s response is not what we are expecting. It would seem that God would show up, explain to Job the whole scenario with Satan, reveal to Job that his life has been the showcase for the whole heavenly realm, and then remove all his suffering in a single swoop. I guess that’s the type of God we expect or want–One who answers all our questions, resolves all our difficulties, and removes all our pain in a single bound (sounds like Superman).

I am reminded of C.S. Lewis’ autobiography when he talks about praying for his mom’s healing when he was a child. God did not answer his prayer and his mom died. Lewis later reflects on this childhood prayer: “I had approached God, or my idea of God, without love, without awe, even without fear. He was, in my mental picture…, to appear neither as Savior nor as Judge, but merely as a magician; and when He had done what was required of Him I supposed He would simply–well, go away.” That is often the type of God we want. One who solves our problems and then goes away so that we can continue living the way we want.

What Job found out is that God does not operate according to our standards or our expectations. And if we are going to question Him, challenge Him, then we should be prepared to be questioned and challenged by Him. God asks Job a series of about fifty questions to which Job has no answer. God was not trying to humiliate Job but simply to remind Job Who He was. More than needing an explanation of his suffering, Job needed a revelation of Who God was. He needed to know that God was still in control, still infinite in wisdom, still powerful, and still concerned with his life. Once Job knew this, he could trust God even when he did not know the answers to all of life’s questions.

I think of my own children. They inevitably think that they know more than they really do. They also think that they can understand more than they really can understand. They will at times question Liz and I’s commands or instructions. They think they have life all figured out and they often want us to prove to them why our way is better than their own. Most of the time we will exercise patience with them and try to answer their endless “why” questions. But sometimes, when they push the envelope too far, we simply have to remind them, “You do not know. You cannot understand. Just trust us and obey us. We are the parents. You are the child.” God seemingly does the same thing in chapter 38. “Job, you do not know all things. You cannot understand all My ways. Trust me. Obey me. I am God. You are not.”

Lord, help me to trust You even when I do not understand Your ways.

God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; He does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that all men He has made may know His work, He stops every man from his labor. (Job 37:5-7)

Elihu doesn’t always get it right but he certainly does in chapter 37. This is perhaps why Elihu is included in the book. Despite his shortcomings, particularly at the beginning of his speech, he ends up pointing everyone back to God. Elihu’s words in chapter 37 become the introduction to God’s appearance in chapter 38. That in itself teaches me something. I may not always get it right. My words may be mixed with elements of pride, anger, or ignorance. But in the end if I simply point people to God then He is glorified despite my weaknesses and shortcomings.

Elihu does two things in chapter 37 that, I think, put him on the right path.

1. He focuses on the glory of God and worships Him. Something changes in Elihu as he is talking. You see it in 37:1-2. At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of His voice… It’s as if suddenly Elihu remembers who he is talking about. His words no longer become simply a speech to Job but rather an opportunity to worship God. Joy floods his heart, replacing his anger at Job and his friends with a wondrous awe at God. His focus seems to entirely change. I can’t totally remember but it seems like this is the first time in Job where everyone is encouraged to stop babbling and philosophizing and simply “listen” to God. It takes Elihu awhile to get there but in the end his heart is moved to simply stop, listen, and worship God.

This is where Elihu is different than Job’s friends. As the dialogue progresses Job’s friends seem to get harder and more belligerent in their responses. They’re not changing no matter what. Here is where Elihu’s youth really seems to make a difference. He is still open to change, still receptive to God’s voice, still sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings. God can still mold Elihu. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are too old, crusty, and set in their ways to change. Lord, deliver me from such an attitude as I get older!

2. He switches from a focus on Job to a focus on all people.  Elihu not only starts talking about God in chapter 37 but he also seems to make a subtle change in how he addresses the whole situation. In chapters 32-36, it seems like Elihu is primarily focused on Job and his response to God’s discipline. He seems to use the word “you” a lot. However, in chapter 37, it seems like Elihu’s perspective changes. Now he talks about God’s dealings with “all men” and even uses the 1st person plural in verse 19 (”we”). It may not be a major thing but I think Elihu suddenly realized that “hey, we are all in this together.” We all should stand in awe of God. We all should “stop our labor” and consider who He is. We all should tremble at the power of God and the fragility of human life. A huge change takes place when we stop analyzing and critiquing another person’s life and start recognizing that we all stand accountable and needy before a great and powerful God.

The Almighty is beyound our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress. Therefore, men revere Him, for He does not have regard for any who think they are wise. (Job 37:23-24)

Elihu’s change in heart and perspective has paved the way for God to speak. May my own heart be open to God’s transforming power so that God can speak to me and through me as well.

I still can’t figure out Elihu. Some of the things he says are really good, particularly when he gets into God’s glory in creation (36:27-33). However, a lot of his words are also off the mark.

Elihu’s pride comes through in 36:4, Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you. Whoa. That kind of self-confidence (or self-delusion) can get you in trouble.

Elihu’s misunderstanding of affliction also comes out in 36:8-9, But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, He tells them what they have done–that they have sinned arrogantlly. Elihu assumes that Job’s great affliction must somehow be rooted in arrogant sin. In this regard, he is not much different than Job’s friends. They are all convinced that this whole ordeal in Job’s life is the result of latent or blatant sin in his life. The opening chapters of Job, however, make it clear that the ordeal has more to do with Job’s righteous character than any kind of sinful arrogance.

But the words that stood out to me this morning are in 36:15-16 and 36:21. I think Elihu hits the nail on the head with these words:

But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction…. Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.

Probably the biggest challenge we will ever face in life is responding well to affliction. All of us have to face it at times in our lives. Some more than others. Some in different ways. Affliction comes in all kinds of packages–physical illness, chronic pain, emotional doldrums, depression, relational conflict, abandonment, abuse, grief, rejection, financial losses, spiritual dryness, etc. Whatever package it comes in, affliction is never welcome and it shakes us to our core. Our tendency is to run, to escape, to withdraw, or to somehow alleviate or numb the pain. But in these times, Elihu reminds us of several things:

1. God is speaking. There is a message to be heard. Affliction often reveals the idols of our heart, the things that we are holding onto for our happiness, our satisfaction. C.S. Lewis said that God whispers to us in our pleasures and shouts to us in our pain. His point was that pain opens up our ears. We hear more clearly. Why? Because we recognize that we are out of control and need help.

2. God is wooing. “Wooing” is such an interesting word. It is a relational word, a word of enticement. God is wooing us toward Himself, drawing us into deeper intimacy with Himself. Suffering gives us an opportunity to enter into deeper relationship with God, into a “spacious place free from restriction.” It gives us an opportunity to let go of some things and to cast ourselves more fully upon God.

3. Sin is calling. Affliction not only opens us up to God; it also opens us up to sin. Beware of turning to evil which you seem to prefer to affliction. Affliction always brings us to a crossroads, a crisis point, a decision. Are we going to draw closer to God, continuing to walk the rocky road despite its uncertain terrain? Or are we going to seek out relief and escape at all costs, taking whatever road looks good at the time? Affliction is not fun. It is not comfortable. It is not desirable. But it is always better than sin. Sometimes we have to choose to stay in the uncomfortable place in order to avoid going down the road of sin.

I think of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Satan’s enticement was for Jesus to avoid the road of suffering, to take the quick way out. Turn the stones into bread, Jesus. Alleviate your hunger now. Jump down from the temple, Jesus. Gain a massive following now. Bow to me, Jesus. Claim your kingdom now. To avoid temptation, Jesus actually had to choose to stay on the road of affliction. It is the hardest decision a person will ever have to make.

Lord, I do not like going through low times. I do not like feeling distant from You. I do not like conflict or pain. But help me to hear Your voice during these times. Help me to let go of my idols. Help me to find the path to deeper intimacy with You. Keep me from choosing the easy way out and from choosing sin over affliction. In Jesus’ name and in His strength, Amen. 

Then Elihu said: “Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I will be cleared by God.’ Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?’ I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you. (Job 35:1-4)

I’ve never quite figured out how to take Elihu. Who is he? And what is the purpose of his long speeches? I’ve read a few commentaries on Job and most of them don’t know how to take Elihu either. There are basically three opinions on Elihu’s role in the book of Job:

1. He is a bad character, even worse than the other three counselors, thus prompting God’s eventual response in chapter 38.

2. He is a neutral character, just another counselor with another opinion not much different than the other three.

3. He is a good character, confronting Job in some needed areas though still missing the boat on many issues.

As I read Elihu’s speeches I am not real impressed. He does seem to be better than Job’s friends with a little more compassion toward Job and a little better grasp of Job’s situation. He does bring some progress to the discussion. But he still comes across as lecturing and long-winded to me. I see two real problems with Elihu–he speaks out of his anger and he speaks with a touch of pride.

Before Elihu speaks in chapter 32, it is clear that he is angry with the whole situation. He is angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God and he is angry with Job’s friends for accusing Job of sin without any proof. Four times in 32:1-5 it says that Elihu’s “wrath was aroused.” Now, in some sense, his anger was justified. Job had said some provocative things and Job’s friends were grossly out of line. However when you speak out of anger it usually does not bring good results. I am reminded of James 1:19-20, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” We cannot get to God’s righteousness on the pathway of anger. Anger may get us to take notice of a situation but if the situation is to be resolved in God’s way then we have to resolve our anger first.

The second problem with Elihu is pride. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom (33:32-33). Elihu is just a little too sure of himself. He is not quite as prideful as Job’s friends but he is sure that his take on the situation is better than Job’s friends or Job himself. Elihu’s pride clouds his judgment on many issues.

So what is the purpose of Elihu’s speeches? I still do not know. My best guess at this point is that Elihu represents the typical “outsider’s” view of the whole dialogue between Job and his friends. In other words, as we hear the dialogue between Job and his friends, it is easy for us to pass judgment on both sides of the argument. Somehow we tend to think that we are objective and can figure out where Job and his friends went wrong. “Well, if I would have been one of Job’s friends, I would had said such and such.” Elihu may be a reminder to us that despite how objective we may think we are, we don’t have a grasp on the situation either.

I am reminded of how often I watch interviews on TV with Christian spokespeople and think, “Boy, if that was me, I would have said…” I can do the same thing when I hear sermons or listen to others speak or counsel. I have to be careful. It is easy to sit on the outside and pass judgment. It is easy to critique. It is easy to see what is wrong with another person’s take on a situation. It is easy to play ”armchair quarterback.” It is easy to fall into the trap of anger and pride.

On the other hand, it is hard to minister to another person in need. It is hard to know how to speak God’s truth in a godly way at the right time. It is hard to know how to balance truth and love, firmness and compassion, confidence in God’s truth and humility in my own understanding of that truth. That kind of Christlike heart and wise balance does not come because we are old or young, Baptist or Presbyterian, modern or postmodern, pastor or plumber. It only comes when we are walking in step with the Spirit of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. …If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-23, 25)

Lord, help me to walk in Your Spirit today.

Men, join us on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm for a time of basketball and other competitive activity followed by a time of Bible study and prayer. Contact cgmg@sayrewoods.org for more info.

He has neither son nor posterity among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. …Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God. (Job 18:19,21)

There is not much encouraging in Bildad’s speech for a morning devotion! Again he blasts Job and basically accuses him of being a wicked man who does not know God. Such a wicked man gets what he deserves…as Job apparently has. Bildad’s speech is the exact opposite of encouragement and comfort, which Job longed for in 16:5.

This morning I wondered why God allows the speeches in Job to continue for so long when the words of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar do not seem to change much. I mean, what I read this morning by Bildad sounds like the same speech he gave before. So why repeat the words? Why not end the book of Job after fifteen or sixteen chapters? I think I get the point of their speeches so why let them go on and on?

But maybe the fact that the friends’ speeches never change and seem to go on and on is one of the main points of Job. His friends never change! Every speech takes the same path, covers the same territory, repeats the same old arguments. While Job’s thoughts, emotions, and spiritual life seem to be on a roller coaster, the friends seem to move on cruise control–same speed, same direction. I’ve heard it said that the best thing about obstinance is that at least you always know what you will think tomorrow. That is certainly true with Job’s friends.

Of course, those who are obstinate often see that quality in a different light. I am sure Job’s friends saw their unwillingness to change their perspective as a sign of their great maturity, faithfulness, commitment, and steadiness. It’s all in how you look at it. For instance, some people say I can be nosey at times. I say that I am merely hungry for knowledge :>).

But thinking about all this this morning reminded me that there is something valuable about being willing to change your perspective, being open to growth. If I can’t think of one thing about myself or about my perspective that has changed in the last year then something is wrong. I have become calcified in the head, hardened in the heart. The Christian life is all about transformation and that comes day by day through the “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2)…that is through changing the way you think, deepening your perspective on things, growing in your understanding.

Yes, as believers, we have a core foundation. God is holy. We are sinners. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died for us and rose again to show that He is victorious over sin, Satan, and death. That is the core of Christian belief. This we hold onto without compromise. But much of the rest, particularly methodology and how we do things, is open for change, for growth.

If my perspective on music and worship never changes, then something is wrong. If my view of evangelism and missions doesn’t deepen and expand over time, then maybe I am stuck in a rut. If my prayer life doesn’t have ups and downs, then maybe I am just going through the motions. Relationships have ups and downs. The ones that don’t either are not dealing with real life or have become stagnant. I don’t want my relationship to God to become stagnant…thus I better get used to the mountaintops and the valleys.

Lord, keep me from becoming a Bildad, from getting stuck in my perspective, from refusing to grow, from resisting change. May I always be learning, changing, renewing, growing in my relationship to You.

I also could speak as you do if your soul were in my soul´s place. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you; but I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief. (Job 16:4-5)

Obviously one of the purposes of Job is to teach us how not to minister to someone who is suffering. Job’s friends blew it. They did well in coming to see Job and in sitting with him for seven days (2:13). That in itself is amazing to me. They got off to such a good start but then they started talking…and that’s when their trouble began.

The friends saw their purpose as “fixing” Job’s situation. Job’s problem was some secret, unknown sin. In their minds, no one could suffer like Job suffered without being under some kind of divine punishment for sin. Thus, Job’s problem was sin and the solution was his repentance. Their wrong interpretation of the situation led them to harp on Job, confront him, and basically condemn him. What should they have done?

Job tells them…and in the process teaches us how to deal with people who are suffering. We are to strengthen and comfort them with our words. Strength and comfort. Suffering people need strength to keep moving forward. They need comfort to know that they are still loved and cared for. I can’t help but think of Jonathan coming to David when he was at one of his lowest points emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God (1 Samuel 23:16). Jonathan encouraged David by coming–by being present with him–and by strengthening his hand in God.

Job’s situation is tough. I am not sure how he could have been encouraged in the midst of such extreme grief. But simply having friends nearby who listen, encourage, and help is far more beneficial than having friends who sit around analyzing your situation and trying to figure out what you did wrong. As they say, with friends like that, who needs enemies?

Lord, teach me to be an encouragement to others. May those I interact with be strengthened in their walk with God.