We continue our study of Job with Francis Chan and RightNowMedia. Today we get an overview of chapters 32-37. In every session we have a few goals..
- Main Idea: When we counsel suffering people, we should always remind them of God’s sovereign, all-powerful nature and encourage humility as we examine his ways.
- Head Change: To know we must be wise in how we approach conversations about spiritual matters.
- Heart Change: To feel a deeper sense of humility when we pray for understanding or talk about hard things.
- Life Change: To seek and offer wisdom with humility and reverence for God.
Who is your favorite online news source or “influencer,” and why?
News and opinion sites abound, and social media is rife with influencers, people who are experts on specific topics, brands, or items. When we follow certain accounts, we hear them talk about issues from their perspectives. We learn from them and, often, become discipled by them. But human wisdom is always flawed.
God’s wisdom, found in and affirmed by his Word, must guide our lives above all other sources. In today’s session, Francis will explore a long speech by one of Job’s friends, a new voice who points to God himself as the source of true wisdom.
This session covers Job 32–37. Due to the length of this passage, we will read selected passages for summary.
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. 3 He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
“I am young in years,
and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit in man,
the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
9 It is not the old[a] who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12 I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words. -Job 32:1–12 ESV
5 For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,
and God has taken away my right;
6 in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 What man is like Job,
who drinks up scoffing like water,
8 who travels in company with evildoers
and walks with wicked men?
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
that he should take delight in God.’
10 “Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. – Job 34:5–10 ESV
1 “At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4 After it his voice roars;
he thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings[a] when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their lairs,
and remain in their dens.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
and cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
13 Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen. – Job 37:1–13 ESV
Show RightNowMedia Session 5: Job 32–37 (11 minutes).
DISCUSS
In Job 32…
Elihu is different from Job’s other three friends. He’s younger and has waited to speak until the older men have exhausted their words.
Job had consistently defended himself against Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar, refusing to concede that God was punishing him for evil he may have committed. But, he does go too far, claiming to be totally innocent. How realistic is it for even the most moral, generous, servant-hearted person to live sin-free? What does Job’s argument reveal about his heart?
Elihu made a point to mention that he’s younger and that he waited to speak out of respect for his elders. Yet, he believed God gives wisdom to people of all ages. Old age does not guarantee wisdom and youth does not exclude a person from having insight. How willing are you to receive rebuke or advice from someone younger than you? What makes you open to or closed off from their perspective?
In verse 8, Elihu gave God credit for the wisdom he was about to share. He was not trying to impress his older friends or act rebelliously, rather, he was seeking to honor God by speaking up. What can stop us from speaking in situations with older people? When have you felt encouraged to offer advice to them?
Francis said many people believe they are speaking for God yet, they contradict one another. Whatever our age or maturity level, claiming to speak God’s word is a weighty prospect, something to carefully consider before acting upon. When you talk with someone about spiritual matters, how do you know you are repeating God’s wisdom versus offering your own?
Elihu said the older men should have approached Job with some humility rather than venting their views on how and why God dispenses judgment. They spent a lot of time saying untrue things about God that did not ultimately help Job. A wiser approach would have left room for wonder, mystery, and grace. They would have admitted that they did not have all the answers. What reaction do you usually have when confronted with an arrogant attitude in a discussion on spiritual matters? How do you know when it’s time to end a conversation in which you cannot agree with the other party?
Next in Job 34:5–10.
Job had consistently defended himself against Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar, refusing to concede that God was punishing him for the sins he may have committed. But he does go too far, claiming to be totally innocent. How realistic is it for even the most moral, generous, servant-hearted person to live sin-free? What does Job’s argument reveal about his heart?
Elihu summarized Job’s argument: Job said he was innocent and God was unjust to punish him for sins he didn’t commit. Elihu responded by asserting that God never does evil. Both men were adamant in their opinions. How do you react to disagreements about Bible passages, theology, or church matters? To what degree have you sounded like Job and Elihu? In what ways have you learned to offer your views humbly?
In Job 37:1–13.
Elihu shared an ode to God’s creative power in nature. Verse 5 says, “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” We can argue and wonder why God makes certain decisions without finding any answers. But, while we banter over philosophy, we can glimpse his majesty through creation. Elihu invites us to marvel at God while we wonder about his works. In what ways can our philosophic or theological arguments cause us to treat God like a problem to be solved rather than a God to be worshipped? What would it look like to marvel at God while we wonder at his works?
Francis noted that Elihu’s speech in chapter 37 is a prelude to God’s response in the following chapters. Elihu was attempting to prepare Job’s heart for the truth that God is God and does not owe Job anything. How do you think you would react to Elihu’s warning if you were experiencing such dire suffering? What does it take for you to listen when a friend offers you truth you don’t want to hear?
Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz tried to argue Job out of suffering or offer solutions to fix his pain But Elihu pointed Job back to God. We need friends to help us discuss ideas, fashion our conclusions, and remember to focus on God. Giving advice out of our own wisdom, however, is not helpful. Do you tend to try to fix people with your earthly perspective or do you bring them to God? The next time you are approached for advice, what can you do to ensure you speak according to scriptural truth?
We may think we have it all together, but the hardships of life will teach us otherwise. When we seek counsel, we need to look for someone with a more mature faith who will point us to Jesus. When we give wisdom, we need to make sure we are sharing God’s wisdom, not tips and tricks for fixing a situation. Where do you look for wisdom when you are suffering? What could it look like for you to seek and share God’s wisdom in your current circumstances?
LAST WORD
Our lives are filled with influencers and loud voices demanding our attention. We long for insight, but often find people’s perspectives rather than God’s wisdom. Elihu’s example reminds us to speak only God’s truth.
A humble approach to sharing wisdom glorifies God rather than ourselves. We should seek to point others to God first and foremost. As C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Are we listening to what he has to say?