JOB MOMENT – (11JUN19) Elihu, being the last friend to speak,
thought that he had a lot of wisdom to relay. Yet, with all of his words, that take
up six chapters in the book of Job, he said nothing more than what his other
friends did, and was still WRONG. A person being wise in their own eyes make
the greatest fools. Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his
spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” We see that Elihu spoke
foolishly, but Job did not respond to him as he had to the other friends.
Although, there were some truths that Elihu gave, his knowledge lacked wisdom
as to how to make it applicable for Job’s current situation.
A person can be an absolute bookworm, but the Holy Spirit is
the one who gives wisdom and understanding. James 3:17 says, “But the
wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full
of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” Did Elihu’s “wisdom”
fit into any of these categories listed in James’ book? No! It was not pure
because it came with an agenda. It was not peaceable because it could give no comfort
nor empathy to what Job was going through. It was not open to reason because Elihu
was more concerned about being right than taking a look to see if some other
factors were at play. It was not merciful because he showed no compassion that
Job had lost his family, friends, livelihood and health. There were not good fruits
because it did not exercise the fruits of the Spirit that are: love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control in accordance to Galatians 5:22-23. Elihu was not impartial in his
assumptions and what he considered as sincerity was filled with his own
arrogance and pride. Therefore, what lesson can we learn from the young Elihu?
When we see a person hurting, even if they brought certain events on
themselves, we can give them love. We can be the listening ear that they need,
gently guide them back to Christ, and pray for their peace in the Lord. We have
ALL sinned, so we must tell the truth, but be mindful that Jesus was patient
with us while we were still far away from Him. Something to ponder….
QUESTION OF THE DAY – (11JUN19) Elihu posed this question to
Job: “If you sin, how does it affect Him (God)? He answers his own question by
saying that a man’s wickedness only affects humans and his righteousness only
other people. But was Elihu correct in his question and answer? Isaiah 59:2
says, “But your
iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have
hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” The Prophet Isaiah is saying
that our sins DO affect God because it causes a separation between us and Him.
Therefore, we are not able to have the type of relationship that He longs for when
we are wrapped in sin. After the fall of Adam and Eve, they were no longer able
to live in the Garden of Eden. They could no longer look into their Creator’s
face because of their sin. This, of course, grieved God and He had to kill one
of His own created creatures in order to put clothing on Adam and Eve because
they knew that they were naked.
Elihu
was incorrect in stating that sin only affects people. For example, a person
can commit the sin of masturbation, which is often a solo act. Does a person pleasuring
themselves affect someone else? Not necessarily, but it does affect our
relationship with God when He has called lust in the heart SIN. What about our
righteousness? Does it only affect others, or does it affect God? Genesis 5:24
says, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then
he was no more, because God took him away.” Why was Enoch able
to walk with God? Because He was considered as righteous. Therefore, he had a
special relationship with God because sin cannot be in the presence of God. Therefore,
Elihu was wrong once again in his assumptions. God considered Job to be
blameless and his test was not due to wickedness. God was able to prove to
Satan that Job would remain faithful despite what was thrown at him. Something
to ponder…
JOB MOMENT – (11JUN19) Elihu spoke about God being in
control of the weather and how He was the one to bring lightening, rain, snow
and ice. God was the one who brings the clouds and scatters the lightening. This
much is true. Recently, we have seen a lot of flooding in various states where
crops are not able to be planted, which is going to make the prices of food
rise. Unlike in Job’s case, there is a time when God says that He has had
enough and allows things to take place in order to get our attention. Man will
say that it is climate change, but for those of us who read the Bible, we know
that it is God judgment on the land because of the sins that are spewing out of
it. God gives all sorts of signs and warnings so that man will repent and turn
back to Him.
Many people are of the opinion that God never sends
judgments, but God is a God of justice and yet, He does not give us what we
really deserve. We deserved the penalty of death, but He sent His Son Jesus to
save us from our sins. God never wants to punish His children, but we are oftentimes
disobedient, so He tries to correct us by sending warnings to get our attention.
Unfortunately, so many people are not listening and paying attention to the alarm
bells that are sounding. They are like the people were in Noah’s day who had
been preached to for over a hundred years, but ignored his warnings. One day,
the rain finally came, but it was too late for them to enter the ark. We too
will see a day when God will finally close the ark on mankind. Until that day,
we have a work to do and that is to sound the alarm, so that the lost can be
saved. Something to ponder….
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