Well God Showed Up, (pt 2), Job 38:1-38

"Then the Lord answered Job..."

Before we dig in, I'd invite you to read through Job 38:1-38, just so you get the backdrop of what's happening here. As you do, ask yourself: what kind of tone is God taking? How do you think Job feels at God's response? What do you think God is trying to expose? What is God's point here? What is the subject of God's questions? Go ahead, the blog will still be here waiting for your return...

Welcome back. As we look at this chapter, it's important to note what God says and what he does not say. Firstly, he shows up and answers Job, which is very important. The Creator and Lord of the universe doesn't owe Job or anyone else an explanation for how he runs the world, but yet he shows up anyway. The very fact God showed up and gave Job an audience shows his kindness and compassion for Job in light of the suffering he has experienced. God could have just squashed Job and moved on with running the universe, but he didn't. He didn't necessarily answer Job the way he wanted and he wasn't exactly gentle in his answers, but God did step in and answer. (Mental note: God doesn't necessarily answer us the way we want him too). Secondly, God does NOT condemn Job for any sin he has committed to justify his suffering, (which is what his three friends would have expected). "Clearly, then, God holds nothing against Job; not even his wild words, (6:3) are a matter for reproof", (Bruce, 545). Perhaps what is most important is how God does NOT provide an explanation for the suffering Job has experienced, which is what Job wanted. He doesn't explain the "why" questions Job had been asking.

Baby Eating a Watermelon: "So Travis, what then does God actually say if he doesn't answer the "why" questions?"

Me: "Good question, Baby Eating a Watermelon. Let's look at the chapter and see."

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me," (Job 38:2-3). Uh oh, this is not starting out well for Job. Throughout the next three chapters God is going to ask Job over 70 rhetorical questions. As you read through these I want you to realize that the purpose of God's interrogation is both to teach and humble Job, not to condemn or embarrass him. He is giving Job an opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of God, evil, injustice, and life.

Job 38:4-7; 8-11; 16-18. God starts out by asking Job if he understands how the world was created? Was he there? Does he know how God formed it from nothing? Does Job know who set the boundary of the oceans? Does Job understand the way the waters were made to go so far upon a continent and then go no further? Does Job comprehend the depths of the oceans which no one has ever seen? Has he seen the deep and hidden parts of the earth? Why did God make the earth? Why did he make mountains here and rivers there? Why did God make continents and not just one big land mass? Why did he make volcanoes? The answer to these questions reveals there are things Job cannot comprehend. There is knowledge beyond Job's understanding.

Job 38:12-15, 19-21. Does Job command the sun? Does he know how the planets revolve around a

burning ball of incredibly hot gas? Does he comprehend how the sun perfectly sends rays of warmth and light to a planet which is 92,956,050 miles away? Does he know how it rises and sets each day? Can he comprehend how God brings light and darkness, goodness and judgment upon the wicked who are on the earth? Why did God make 9 planets? (Yes, I know there's only eight, but I refuse to give up on Pluto). Why did God make rings around Saturn? Why did God put little green men on Mars? (Hey, you never know). Why did God make only one planet inhabitable for humans? There are things you cannot comprehend. There are things beyond your control. There is knowledge beyond your understanding.

In 38:21 God gets sarcastic. It's never a good sign when the Lord of all the universe is using sarcasm with you. "What is the way to the dwelling of light...You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!" Uh oh.

Job 38:22-30. Do you know how God makes snow, Job? Do you know how he chooses to bring the snow storms at the times of his choosing? (Heck even in the 21st Century our sophisticated weathermen can't figure that out?) Do you understand how he reserves destructive weather to punish the wicked in the time of trouble? Can you comprehend how God sends the rain, thunder, and lightning upon the earth? How exactly does lightning work, Job? Why did God make lightning? Why does it rain on one part of the city but not the other? Do you know how God provides rain and nourishment to a dry and thirsty land so that plants may grow? How does God make ice, show, and frost? Why does he do that? There are things you cannot comprehend. There are things beyond your control. There is knowledge beyond your understanding.

Job 38:31-38. Do you know the workings of the stars? Can you rearrange them to make your own constellations? Can you change the Big Dipper so that it looks like Snoopy instead? Do you understand how God set the stars in place? Why did God make stars? What purpose do they serve? Why did God make Orion in the heavens? Can you control the clouds? Why are there tiny wispy clouds and big fat rain clouds? How did God make clouds? Why do they look that way? Can you control the clouds and make it rain when you want it to? Can you control the very forces of the heavens? Does the universe work at your whim? There are things you cannot comprehend. There are things in nature beyond your control. There is knowledge beyond your understanding.

God is not necessarily teaching Job new information here. Job himself had already shown a solid grasp of the greatness of God in his earlier statements. Job was an intelligent guy and he was a man who feared God. Surely he had contemplated the wonders of God and his glory in creation. God was not telling Job new information about God, man, or the world in which he lived in. What God was doing was trying to get Job to think about the ramifications of the information he already had. In other words, Job knew about the sun, its brilliance, and its heat. He also knew that he had no control over the rising and setting of the sun. God was asking Job to look at the incredible and mysterious events of nature, (like the sun), and see there was a correlation between nature and suffering, good, evil, justice and God's control. Just as there are things in nature beyond Job's understanding and control, so is the outworking of the will and plan of God beyond a person's control and understanding. Man may not understand, but there is a Lord who is wise, good, kind, and purposeful who is directing the events of the universe. They may not make sense to men, but it makes sense to God.

Brian Regan is not sure what to think about all of this. Well hold on, because God's not finished. His next topic will be animals. (It's good, trust me).

P.S. I plan to come to a meaningful conclusion and application of all the information God's dumping on Job, but it seems appropriate to wait and do that once God is done talking in chapter 41 before I start doing that.

Brian Regan...that guy is funny.

Well...God showed up, (pt 1)

One of my favorite movies ever is Forrest Gump. If you have never seen it I suddenly feel very old and my illustration for this entire article is now meaningless. If that's the case, just play along. If you have seen the movie, you will remember Gary Sinese's character, Lieutenant Dan. (I'm going somewhere with this, just hang on). Lieutenant Dan is originally Forrest Gump's commanding officer in Vietnam. Forrest eventually saves Lieutenant Dan from dying in battle. Lieutenant Dan would have preferred to die in battle because that's what the men in his family had always done and the battle wounds he suffered caused him to lose his legs. Lieutenant Dan, (you always have to say the full name, "Lieutenant Dan", in case you're wondering), becomes bitter and angry because he's now a cripple. He's angry at Forrest. He's angry at life and he's angry at God. Forrest, on the other hand, maintains his childlike faith in God.

Ultimately Forrest becomes a shrimp boat captain and Lieutenant Dan becomes his first mate. He and Forrest are having quite a hard time catching shrimp because neither of them really know what they're doing. There's a scene where in his frustration with life, God, and shrimp that Lieutenant Dan looks at Forrest and says, "So where's this God of yours?" It is at that exact moment, as Forrest says so eloquently, "that God showed up." There is a tremendous hurricane that hits their boat while they're out at sea and Lieutenant Dan takes to screaming at God throughout the whole thing. For the rest of the story you have to watch the movie. But I will tell you that Lieutenant Dan gets new legs and gets over his anger issues...and they catch a lot of shrimp.

I've been waiting to use the "God showed up" quote ever since I started this series on Job. It perfectly captures what happens here in chapters 38-41. Job has been wanting to have a word with the Almighty ever since about chapter four. Now God is going to show up and speak his peace to Job. Surprisingly enough, Job is going to get a little more than he bargained for.

As this is the climax of the entire book I am going to take my time to go through what happens and make sure we understand what God says and what it all means. This may take a couple of articles to complete. I'm okay with that because I want to handle these chapters with all the wisdom and grace I can muster, (which isn't much if you're a Journalism major). Let me also say that I am tentative to engage such an amazing passage of Scripture for several reasons. For one thing, it's an awesome passage of the Bible. It is probably the longest speech God ever gives to a human being in the entire Bible. In it God reveals himself in a dynamic way that is seldom seen. I am nervous about being unable to do justice to God's words. Secondly, and perhaps more personally, I understand we have reached the end of the book where we will get the answers, in a sense, to Job's questions about good, evil, suffering, and God's purposes in this world. In other words, we're getting down to the heart of the matter. I realize these are sensitive issues for folks, including me. I/we may not like the answers God provides. My goal here is to be faithful what God has said, but also sensitive to the realities of the questions we all struggle with. It's kind of a big deal. But as Forrest Gump didn't fail to go back in the jungle to save his buddies, so I will endeavor to dig into these chapters without fear, (segue!)

First, let's recap the parties involved and their philosophical understanding of this situation:
Job: Job asked where was God in my suffering? Why did God allow this in my life? I was faithful to God, fearing him and turning from evil. Why then did he bring such evil into my life that I didn't deserve? Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? Why?!

Not even ice cream could cheer up Lieutenant Dan...or Job.

Job's Conclusion: I have not failed to honor and fear God. There is no reason to justify my suffering, therefore God has been unjust in his dealings with me and has messed up in my life. I want God to show up so I can argue my case with him and find some justification for what has happened to me.

Job's Three Friends: The believed only the wicked experience suffering; good people do not suffer calamity. God sends suffering and destruction on a person's life to punish them for their sins. Therefore Job must have committed some evil act that God is now punishing through this suffering. However, if you repent of your evil, God will then bless you abundantly. In the eyes of Job's friends, suffering was a cause and effect relationship with God due to a person's evil. If people are good, they are blessed. If people do bad things, God punishes them. Bad things don't happen to good people and vice versa.

Elihu: He stated that suffering is not necessarily a cause and effect due to sin. He stated God is always fair, but he is mysterious. Just as we cannot understand how God uses the storms to both nurture a land and punish the wicked, so we cannot understand all of God's ways. Ultimately, God's purposes in suffering are educational. He seeking to teach, humble, correct, and yes, even judge a person through suffering. Our job as humans is to submit to what he sends our way and learn from it.

Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu have said all they are going to say about that. Now God is going to show up and have quite a bit to say about that, (movie quote). See you next time.

Job 36-37 - Where Elihu gets to the Point...and Pickles

Why Pickles, you say? I say why not? 

Have you ever listened to someone talk but the whole time you kept thinking, "Just get to the point!" They just kept talking and talking, not actually saying anything, or giving you way too many details about non important things. When they finally get to the point you're thinking, "Okay, I see what you mean, but why didn't you say that 10 minutes ago?" That's what happens with Elihu in Job 36-37. He finally gets to some solid points, but the whole time we're thinking, "But why didn't you just say that earlier?" We are finally at the end of Elihu's speeches, (yay!). As always, please read along in your Bible, Job 36-37.

Background: Job looked at his life, his righteous character and the way he feared God and said, "I have feared God and turned from evil. Therefore I should not be suffering. God has erred in my life by bringing suffering, difficulty, death and loss into my life." Job's three friends said he was a sinner who got what he deserved and he should repent. Now Elihu comes to the summation of his arguments.

Job 36:1-23 - The funniest line in all of Job, and then some thoughtful insight. The funny part is when Elihu says, "Bear with me a little, and I will show you...one who is perfect in knowledge is with you," (1,4). HAHAHAHAHAHA! "Bear with me 'a little'"? This is a guy who has been unable to stop talking for the last three chapters! "One who is perfect in knowledge"? Oh boy, that's a good one! Whew, I needed a good laugh. Thank you, Elihu. Also, thank you, tiny pickle. Okay, let's continue now to the actual substance.

Elihu's view of suffering/loss: God is mighty and merciful. He acts in wisdom and justice in his dealings with men and takes care of the righteous and humble. "Behold, God is mighty, and he does not despise any...He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right," (5-6). He may bring sorrow and struggle to a person's life, but his goal is to redeem, teach, correct, and protect people from foolishness and sin. "Then he declares to them...their transgressions...He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity," (8-10). A good and wise man will submit to God's instruction and learn from his suffering. A foolish and/or wicked man will refuse to learn from the trials he is experiencing and instead stiffen their necks in pride and anger, (11-23). Elihu's point is through suffering God is trying to teach or instruct men in ways they do not understand. Job should submit to the will and instruction of God and learn. If he chooses to reject the works of God in his life, he will both miss a divine opportunity and experience further judgment from God. (Now why Elihu didn't just say that earlier, I don't know).

At first glance this advice can seem mean and heartless. Would you tell someone who just lost a child to cancer that God was trying to teach them something? You wouldn't if you had any sense. But we have to remember that these men are trying to come to a philosophical understanding of suffering and loss. Job said there was no rhyme or reason; God just does as he pleases without purpose or justification. Job's friends said suffering was all due to sin and punishment. Elihu is saying that God sends suffering to teach and grow people, not necessarily to punish. Is Elihu's view ultimately correct? Not quite, but at least it's more thoughtful than whatever Job's friends have said. We also have to remember that these men had little more than oral tradition to teach them about God. There was no Bible. There was no Moses. They were trying to make sense out of the Almighty but they didn't have a whole lot to go on. It's like a man trapped in a tiny pickle, who doesn't know he's trapped in pickle. (Did that illustration make sense? No. But I bet it made you smile).

Not a pickle, but it seems more appropriate.

Job 37:1-13 - God is awesome in his control of nature. He gloriously works amid the wonders of nature to accomplish his purposes. One has to wonder if there isn't a literal storm brewing while Elihu is talking here because thunder and lightning are referred to so frequently in chapters 36-37, (10 times overall). Perhaps Elihu was picking up on the surrounding circumstances to make his point. He shows God as in control of the awesome and mysterious forces of weather. "God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them," (5, 11-12). God does all these things according to his sovereign purposes which we cannot always understand. "Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen," (13).

Not a pickle.

Job 37:14-24 - You cannot understand the sovereign works of God. Therefore be humble before his power and wisdom. "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God...causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds?" (14-16). Look Job, God works wonders in nature. Do you understand Him? Do you know how God makes lightning work? Do you know how God causes the clouds to fill up with water and nourish the earth? "You whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind? Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?" (17-18). In other words, Job, you're a small man who is dependent upon God for a cool breeze on a hot day. You cannot control the winds and weather, only God can. God is bigger than you and me. He is glorious, sovereign, and mysterious. What then should Job do? "The Almighty--we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit," (23-24). Elihu tells Job that God is great, powerful, and just. We cannot understand his ways or come into his presence to demand he given an account for his actions, (which is what Job wanted). Men must trust God is just and righteous in his dealings with us and humbly submit to his ways. Elihu's call is for Job to be humble, fear God, and trust his character.

So Elihu has talked WAY too much, but in the end he actually has some thoughtful things to say. He defended the character of God as just, mighty, and wise. He advised Job that God uses suffering and loss in life to teach us, humble us, and protect us. He showed God to be awesome, mysterious, and incredible, working in the ways of weather and storm to accomplish his purposes. Although we may not agree with everything Elihu said or how he said it, we have to commend him for being different than Job's other friends who told him he should just repent and everything would be gravy.

Now the table is set. All of the smaller speakers have had their say. Mere men have tried to give an answer to the God's purposes in suffering. In the next chapter God shows up and speaks for himself. LLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEETTTTTTT'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Job 34-35, Elihu, Disney, and the justice of God

I beg your pardon for the delay in finishing Job. First of all, the family and I took a much needed vacation to Disney. Secondly, I really don't like writing about whatever Elihu has to say. But here I am: refreshed, ready and willing to continue on with Job. We're so close to the end now! Today we are looking at a couple more chapters of wise words, (cough), from Elihu. Please keep your hands, feet, arms, and faces in the ride at all times. Parents, please supervise your children. As always, please read along in your Bible.

Recap: Job, a righteous man, suffers terribly. Job asks God "Why?" Job's friends say it was because he was a rotten sinner, etc. Job refutes all of their arguments and philosophies. Job's friends then shut up. Now Elihu has stepped forward to offer his advice. Elihu talks and talks and talks, saying very little. Now consider yourself caught up. Let's continue.

Job 34:1-9 - Job has spoken wickedly about God by saying God was unjust. Elihu says that Job stated God had acted unjustly in his life. Job said he was a righteous man and God caused him to suffer anyway. At the same time there were wicked men who prospered. Therefore, (according to Job) what point was there to serve God? "It's all one; therefore I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked," (9:22-23). Elihu sees Job calling God unjust and will therefore spend the rest of the chapter defending God's justice. Elihu calls Job a sinner, not because of his deeds, but for calling God unfair. "What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God," (7-9).

Does being the biggest guy = justice? No. 

Job 34:10-15 - God is just because he's the biggest guy on the playground. Here Elihu proclaims the justice of God, but bases his statement not in God's righteous character, but rather in the might of God. "If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust," (14-15). In other words, God is just because no one can stand against him. This doesn't really make any sense. Elihu doesn't vindicate the justice of God, he just proves no one can stand against him. In other words, Might = Right. This is not a very good argument. Then again, it's Elihu we're talking about here. Let's just move on.

Job 34:16-20 - God is just because he is impartial. (At least this is a better argument). Elihu asserts God could not possibly be unjust because he is impartial in his decision making. He treats young and old, rich and poor the same. "Who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?" (19). Disney World is also impartial. No matter what country you come from or the color of your skin, they will accept your money. :0)

God = all knowing. Doug = knows little. 

Job 34:21-28 - God is just because he knows all things and he will not fail to exercise just judgment on the wicked. God knows all. "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves," (21-22). God is also faithful to execute judgment on the wicked. "He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see," (26-28).

Through all of this the point Elihu is making is God is just and he will never fail to act fairly in the lives of men. God is impartial, omniscient, all powerful, and faithful to judge. Job, according to Elihu, is wrong to assert that God has acted unfairly and should repent of his wicked words and attitude. Job wants God to fix things, but should God make things right in Job's life when Job is acting this way? "Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?" (33, see also 35-37).

Job 35:1-8 -  Job says there is no point in being obedient. Elihu says Job shouldn't expect anything. In chapter 35, Elihu changes direction in his comments and now seeks to refute Job's claim that it is pointless to serve God. In Job's eyes there is no reward for obeying God if he's treated the same as the unrighteous. "That you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?" (3). Job thought God should treat him in accordance with his faithfulness. If God was going to treat him so poorly when he had been faithful, then there was basically no point in Job being righteous. Elihu's response is that if Job chooses sin instead of righteousness, he will only hurt himself, not God. "If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?" (6). If Job should live righteously, does God then owe Job? Is God somehow indebted to Job for his obedience? Elihu is again attacking Job for his poor attitude and words towards God.

You know who else has bad motives? 

Job 35:9-16 - God is not answering Job because Job has corrupt motives. Elihu says that people indeed pray to God when they are suffering, but they only do so because they want something, not because they love, fear, and are devoted to God. "Because of the multitude of the oppressions people cry out...but none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night," (9-10). "Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it," (13). In other words, God is not answering Job because Job is asking for help with crooked motives. Job is not asking in righteous repentance, but out of his pride.

Job has asserted that he was righteous before God and therefore God has been unfair in his dealings with Job. Job did not think he should be experiencing suffering. He could find no reason to justify the trials he was enduring. Therefore he asked God "Why?" and said that God had somehow messed up. Elihu, seeking to justify God, told him the Lord was always fair and Job had bad attitudes and motives towards God and should therefore repent. Elihu did not accuse Job of sinful actions in his life, but rather in his heart and mind. Job has raised honest questions about God, suffering, right and wrong, but has gotten no adequate response from anyone around him.

Yep, it happened.

Most times when you read the Bible or hear it preached there will be some sort of application for you to follow, lesson to learn, or new thought to think. In these chapters it is hard to draw an appropriate application, because Elihu is talking. I don't say that to be rude. My point is it's hard to learn something from a guy who doesn't really know what he's talking about and in fact, talks too much. It'd be different if someone like Elijah was talking, but it's not Eli-jah, it's Eli-hu, as in Hu's on first.

So I'm afraid I can't leave you with any words of wisdom here. We're fighting through all of the dumb responses Job's friends have given to justify Job's suffering. We're also having to endure their awful answers to Job's heart-wrenching questions. Perhaps you have heard some of the same dumb and unhelpful responses in the face of your questions. Perhaps you have asked spiritual people, "Why?" and gotten no help. Job finds himself in the same place. In two chapters Job is going to get all the answers he can handle. Until then, we wait. Hang on, the storm is coming.

My wife, the CEO

The following is an illustration of how decisions play out between my wife and I.

Something is going to be purchased, like a gift for one of the children. I know I can count on my wife to do all the research on the gift and read reviews from previous owners of the same. She will speak with friends, other parents, and church goers to get their opinion on the item. She may even poll children in our neighborhood to get their opinion on the positives and negatives of said product. My wife will stress over the different options for the same product. Should she get item A or item B, which are similiar to product X? Item X was her first choice, but has some slight differences in the way their doo-hickeys and what-nots interact with one another than items A and B. My wife will also compare the prices for each of the products. Product A may have more bells and whistles, but it is over priced when compared to product B. Then again, there's item C, which is in between the prices for items A and B, but has a few other doo-hickeys that might appeal to our child, so that may be a good compromise.

Then there's the child in question. Will this child like Product A? Our firstborn might really like Product B, but our second would not care for Product A or anything in the same neighborhood. Then again, the second born child changes moods and interests faster than you can turn on the lights, so she may like Product A after you buy it, even though she doesn't like it now. You also have to consider whether you would be able to resell the item in question in the future. Maybe item A can be resold while it would be impossible to resell item B. You have to take these things into consideration, (or so I'm told). My wife will spend days going through the internet, scouring the different options available. Nights will be spent in anxious pondering about which product to buy. Prayers will be made, asking the Almighty for perspective and guidance on the purchase to be made. I say this with the highest praise for my spouse. She wants to pick the right product for the right child at the right price so that everyone in the family will be happy.

Here's the great thing about this. I know that whenever my wife comes to me with a decision that she's already thought through every possible contingency, price, review, opinion, perspective, positive, negative, and whatever in between. It's like putting a math problem into the IBM Watson computer. Every variable and possibility has been considered and Watson spits out the answer. The only difference between Watson and my wife is that Watson takes .00000001 seconds to come to a conclusion, while the female mind may take a bit longer, (don't ask me about a male's brain). The point is, whenever my wife comes to me and says, "I think we should do/buy X", that I know all I have to say is "okay", because I know she's thought about this 900 times more than I will ever possibly be able to do. I also know she's smart, careful, considerate, kind and respectful in her decision making, so there's only a .000000000001 percent chance that she'll be wrong. It's like if I asked Watson the answer of a calculus equation. I could spend time checking Watson to see if he was right, but I would just be wasting my time. It's the same with my wife.

So I've basically determined that my wife is the CEO of our household. My wife will analyze, study, research, compare, calculate, stress, question, and review the important decisions that need to be made for the Hendley Company. Hours, days, yea even weeks will be spent on the process of calculating the decision. Meanwhile, I am the president. The CEO will walk into my office and say, "I think we should do X". All I have to do, if I have any intelligence at all, is say "okay". (It's kind of like Tony Stark and Pepper Potts without the money, goatee, billions of dollars and Iron Man suit, but I digress). Regardless, at this point in my marriage I don't spend a lot of time asking if she's considered X,Y, or Z because I know she's considered X, Y, and Z to the 4th degree of consideration. I may ask if she's seen my sunglasses, because I can't find them, but that's about it.

Obviously other husbands are not likely to be as blessed to have a CEO like I do. Each woman and man, husband and wife are different in their strengths and mental/emotional make-up. In some marriages the decision making functions may be totally reversed. For me, I know I can trust my CEO to make smart, wise, and well thought out decisions. As the President of the company, I sometimes have to keep my CEO from freaking out about the decisions that need to be made, but it's a burden I'm willing to bear. As President, sometimes you have to do hard things like that, (which includes looking for your sunglasses while the CEO is doing her job). Otherwise, I just have to stamp "OK" on whatever paperwork my CEO brings to me. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Job 32-33 - Who is that guy?

Who is that girl? Who is Elihu? 

Have you ever seen The Blues Brothers? I have to admit there is some language in there, but overall the movie is great, it includes cameos by untold stars, and has some amazing music. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. In the movie, the Blues Brothers, (played by Dan Akroyd and John Belushi), are on a "mission from God". But there's this girl, (played by Carrie Fisher), who keeps trying to kill the Blues Brothers in rather comical ways throughout the whole movie. Finally, Dan Akroyd asks, "Who is that girl?" You have to watch the movie to get the answer, but the "Who is that?" question fits in well with where we are in Job. Please read along in Job 32-33.

Aretha Franklin, also bitter (in the movie)

Job 32:1-5 - Elihu, whoever he is, is bitter, and here's why. 
Job has finished his statements. He refuted his friends who told him he was suffering because of his sin, (1) Job then declared in the last several chapters, that he was righteous and therefore God had erred in his treatment of him. Now this guy Elihu steps up. Who is this guy? Where did he come from? Was he there the whole time? Why wasn't he mentioned earlier? Does he hate the Blues Brothers too? These things bother me. The Bible says he's the son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram (2). Does that clear it up for you? Nope, me neither. Anyway, he's all upset because Job's friends couldn't refute Job's arguments (3). He's also upset with Job for saying God had messed up (2). So now Elihu, whoever he is, is going to have his say.

Job 32:6-14 - Why Elihu has kept silent and why he will now speak. 
Elihu says he hasn't said anything until now because, being a younger man, he wanted to be respectful of his elders, (which is always a good idea). "I thought, 'Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom," (7). But here's the problem: none of Job's friends were not able to refute what Job said. "But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments," (12). Job still appeared righteous in his own eyes before God. Job believed God had messed up. Now Elihu is going to answer, but he promises not to rehash the same old arguments used by Job's friends. "I will not answer him with your arguments," (14b).

Job 32:15-22 - Elihu REALLY needs to talk, A LOT.
Here's the problem with Elihu: he talks too much. He fits the Shakespearean pattern of taking seven paragraphs to say one thing. This is apparently something ancient Middle Eastern people valued, which is why they would not like Elwood Blues saying, "We're on a mission from God." It's just too succint. Elihu says over and over again how desperate he is to talk. "Must I wait, now they are silent...I too will have my say...I am full of words...I am like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply," (16-21, selected). Geez! Get on with it man!

Job 33:1-7 - Hey Job! Hear what I have to say! Again very wordy, but that's about the gist of it. Elihu asks Job to listen to his arguments and refute him if possible.

Cab Calloway - Just because he's cool. 

Job 33:8-11 - Elihu correctly recaps Job's argument.
Elihu rightly summarizes what Job had said previously: that he was righteous and without sin and that there was no reason for God to have brought this suffering into his life. However, despite Job's righteousness, God had unjustly punished Job. "Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy," (10). Therefore, in Job's eyes, God had acted unjustly in God's life. God had messed up in his dealings with Job. This was a key point we looked at in the last blog. God, in Job's mind, should not be treating him this way. Job should not be suffering because he was a righteous man. Elihu is correct in his recap of Job's arguments...just as Cab Calloway was correct about Minnie the Moocher.

We all hate Illinois Nazis.

Job 33:12-33 - God can bring suffering to protect a person. 
Job wanted God to show up and justify himself for the suffering Job had experienced. Elihu's point is that God may be speaking, but not in ways Job would understand. "Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man's words? For God does speak--now one way, now another--though man may not perceive it," (13-14). For example, God may speak in dreams or through pain and sickness to men (19-22). (Remember, this is before Moses, before the Bible, and before the Ten Commandments. Revelation was pretty limited from God at this time). Why would God speak to men like this? "To turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword," (17-18). "God does all these things to a man...to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him," (29-30). For instance, God may bring an Illinois Nazi into your life...in order to...um...keep you...uh...from crossing a bridge, or something.

Elihu's point is that God may bring suffering, sickness, or terror into a person's life in order to keep them from ultimately destroying themselves through sin, pride, or evil. God may bring hard things into a person's life to preserve and protect a person. Job, according to Elihu, should be aware that God is trying to teach him something, even if God is not speaking to Job the way Job would prefer.

Ray + Blues Brothers = A whole lotta awesome.

Is Elihu right? Is suffering merely God's way of teaching us something? Is it God's way of protecting us from pride or evil? Was God doing all of this in Job's life to bring him to repentance and growth as a person? Remember, this is Elihu's point of you, not necessarily the truth any more than the statements made by Job's friends should be taken as truth. Personally I have a hard time coming to the conclusion that every instance of suffering or pain we experience is an indication of God trying to tell us something. Sometimes it's just the result of living in a fallen and broken world. It's true that God does use difficulty in our lives to grow us as people in the image of God, (James 1:2-5; Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Sometimes God purposefully brings difficulty into our lives for his purposes, (see also the story of Joseph, Genesis 38-50). Then again, I would not say that God murdered Job's family just so Job would be a more patient person. Nor would I encourage us to look at every difficulty as God's trying to tell us we're way too selfish, etc.

We're getting into the weeds here of God's sovereignty, which is obviously a difficult subject. I also recognize that I'm swerving from the text a bit, which I prefer not to do. It's hard to draw an exact conclusion from Elihu's statements because they are "his" statements, not God's, so it's a little hard here to draw an application from the passage. Ultimately I think I'd hang my hat on Genesis 50:20. Joseph is talking to his brothers who sinfully sold him into slavery when he was a boy. Joseph endured all kinds of suffering, but in the end God used it for His good purposes. Joseph told his brothers, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive". Evil men may do evil things and we may suffer in this fallen world, but God is at work for his own wise, loving, and good purposes. That means he can and will use difficulty to grow us in his image, but I wouldn't say that means every traffic jam is God's way of addressing our problems with anxiety.

So Elihu talks too much, but has some interesting things to say. I don't figure Job cares too much for it, but he holds his tongue. Just a few more chapters and then God will show up. Hopefully it'll be as cool as James Brown preaching.

Do you see the light?!

Job 31, If, then, why, Matlock & Job's conclusion

I miss Matlock.

Matlock was a TV show starring Andy Griffith as attorney Ben Matlock. He was always having to defend somebody that appeared totally guilty. Matlock/Andy would inevitably solve the case and prove his client's innocence at the last second when Matlock was in court. (I think he even defended Barney in one episode). Matlock would make a phenomenal closing argument or ask a series of questions that would expose the guilty party at the last second. (If anyone has Matlock shows on DVD I would love to borrow them, but I digress).

Job is about to make his closing argument, a la Matlock, to God and everyone else who is listening. Unlike Matlock, he's not going to solve his case, but he is going to make some amazing statements vindicating his innocence. It really is a marvelous piece of literature and tells us a lot about the man and his beliefs. It is also incredibly humbling to say the least. So read along with me in your Bible, Job 31.

By the way, does anyone remember the Matlock theme song? Classic...Where was I? Oh right, Job. What I'm going to do is first look at what Job says in this chapter, then we're going to talk about what Job 31 means.

Betty White = no lust.

Job 31:1-4 - I have not looked with lust upon young women. (No "lusty" pictures included)
Job says he is righteous in his thoughts and the way he looked at, (or didn't look at), young women. He was morally pure in his thought life. God could not charge him with lust. "I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?" (1). Why did Job act this way? Because he knew God was watching and he knew it was wrong. "Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?" (4) So Job was a man of visual purity for the sake of God.

Job 31:5-8 - I have not been deceitful or corrupt in my character. 
Job says he has not lied or deceived others. He has not turned to evil in any way in his life. Here begins the beginning of many "If I have...then". Job will say "If I have done this then may God do such and such to me." Job is making an oath in these statements, denying wickedness and laying  the burden of proof directly upon God or anyone else who would charge him with wrongdoing. "If I have walked in falsehood...(then) let Him weigh me with accurate scales...(then) let me sow and another eat," (5-8). Job has been a man of integrity in his dealings with others. "If...then".

Job 31:9-12 - I have not committed adultery. (No "adultery" type pictures included). 
Job has not turned from his wife to another woman, nor has he gone after another man's wife. Sexual immorality is a key stumbling block for many a man, (See also King David, Bill Clinton, Samson, Magic Johnson, JFK, etc). However, Job has not been corrupted by the lure of adultery or sexual immorality. He says, 'if I have, then may I die and my wife take another husband'. Why does he say this? "For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges," (11). Job understood that adultery was a supremely evil act, (see also Proverbs), and he would have to give an account before God for his immoral behavior. He might have been able to deceive men, but he could not hide adultery from God and he knew it. "If...then".

Lumiere and Ms. Potts would've felt valued by Job.

Job 31:13-15 - I have not rejected the needs of my servants. 
Both men and women servants were respected and cared for by Job. This is even more notable because women in Job's day were probably considered second-tier members of society, yet even they were cared for and respected. Why? "Did not He who made me in the womb make him, and the same one fashion us in the womb?" (15). Job knew that every man and woman, even those who were merely servants, were made in the image of God and had inherent dignity and value in the sight of God. "If...then".

Job 31:16-23 - I have not neglected the poor and needy. 
Job has not been deaf to the cries of the poor, the orphan, or the needy. The marginalized in society were provided for by Job. Through him they received food, shelter, and support. Why? "For calamity from God is a terror to me, and because of His majesty I can do nothing," (23). Job knew God's heart for the poor and outcast and that God would judge him should he ignore their cries. Job, as wealthy and as blessed as he was, still reached out and cared for the humble and poor around him. "If...then".

Job 31:24-28 - I have not put my trust in riches and I have not been an idolater. 
Even though Job was incredibly wealth, he did not put his trust in his money, but in God. He did not turn from God to worship the moon, the sun, or any other deity. In other words, his heart was pure in devotion to God, finding trust in no other thing. "If I have put my confidence in gold...If I have looked at the sun when it shone or the moon going in splendor...(then) that too would have been an iniquity calling for judgment, for I would have denied God above," (24-28, selected). Job's trust throughout his life was not his strength, his wealth, or any other "god". His trust and worship were of God alone. Why? Because he understood idolatry of any kind was evil before God. "If...then."

Job 31:35-40 - The Defense Rests. 
Now Job closes out his defense. Like Matlock he makes his closing argument to the court of God's judgment. "Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me!" (35). He has presented his case before God and he has sat down. He will say no more, "the words of Job are ended," (41). He has clearly stated his righteousness of character, mind, heart, and actions. By doing so he has demanded God answer his defense, as in a court of Law. He is asking God to justify any reason for the suffering and torment he has endured, (including, death, loss, sickness, and vilification). Job is now done talking. Feel free to celebrate. You've made it this far through the book.

Now I've told you what he said in chapter 31. So what does it all mean?

1) Job was a man of incredible righteousness in an age of limited revelation. Remember, Job was a contemporary of Abraham. There was no Bible and no Ten Commandments in Job's day. Job's understanding of God was likely only from oral tradition passed down from Adam to Eve, Seth, Noah, etc. Yet Job was a man of amazing character in word, thought, and deed. Feel free to compare yourself to Job, but I guarantee you that you'll come out on the losing end. He cared for the poor, the needy, and his servants. He was a man of personal integrity. He was free from lust and adultery. He did not treat his enemies as they deserved. He worshiped and trusted in God alone. He was a man of the uttermost righteousness. There was no sin in his life to justify the suffering he was experiencing. (We'll come back to that last point).

2) Job's righteousness was based in the person and character of God. Job avoided lust because he knew it was wrong before God. Job cared for his servants because he knew they were made in the image of God. Job cared for the sick, the poor, and the alien because he knew God cared for the same people. Job did not act in idolatry because he knew God was the one true deity. Job's righteous behavior was based in the knowledge of and the person of God. The basis for all righteousness is found in God, not in man's understanding. Do you think this might have some application for the government, public schools, marriage, sexuality, law and order, parenting, and modern man's understanding of right and wrong? Yep. Righteousness is found and based in God. If you forsake a proper understanding of the Creator, you will also lose proper perspective on what is right, true, and good and thus your society will deteriorate. (I could continue, but let's just move on).

3) Job put his character up before God's standard and was willing to be judged accordingly. None of Job's friends could find any fault in him. Job was willing to examine himself and even let God examine him to see if there was any sin or wickedness in his life. Job was a shining light of inward and outward moral purity. There was no stain on his character. Truly he "feared God and turned away from evil," (Job 1).

Trivia: Who was Boo Radley? What was Gregory Peck's daughter's name
in the movie? No cheating please. 

4) Here's the rub. Job had shown himself to be righteous. Therefore, in Job's mind, there was no justification for his suffering. His friends had told him only the wicked suffer and are punished by God accordingly. Job had clearly refuted their arguments. Even if their points were true, Job has thoroughly refuted any claims to his guilt. Here's where we get to the crux of the matter. Job was righteous, therefore in his mind God had no justification for decreeing suffering or calamity in his life. God had somehow erred by allowing Job to experience death, destruction and suffering. God had not acted justly in Job's life, according to Job. I think Job would have accepted his lot had he been a sinner, but since Job knew he was righteous, he was upset with God for bringing suffering and destruction into his life. In Job's mind, the righteous should not suffer and God should give an answer to him for the calamity he has experienced.

The claim has been made. Job has finished his argument. Now a surprise witness for the prosecution will arise and then the Judge of all the earth will speak. Stay tuned, (and buy yourself a donut for getting this far).