Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
It is reasonable to assume that Job’s attitude likely reflected this sentiment: “Just leave me alone!” However, another individual felt compelled to speak to Job and took his turn. His name is Elihu, and he is a bold young man I introduced last time. We will continue exploring his message to Job.
Today, I want to introduce you to a man named Elihu. Perhaps Elihu was a Dallas man. He vacillates between arrogance and expressing solid biblical truth!
Job was exhausted—both in body and spirit—deeply grieving and suffering physically. His friends blamed him for the loss of his family, wealth, and declining health, convinced that he had committed a great sin. The God whom Job had feared and served was silent, or so it seemed.
Job desired that his words be recorded on parchment and preserved in book form. Or better yet, his testimony should be carved in stone, with hot lead poured into the letters. This would ensure his story is “engraved in the rock forever.” Job didn’t realize it, but God answered his prayer! His story has been read and studied throughout history, and Job has served as a master teacher for all who love and follow God.
In our time, we’ve learned about Job’s patience, resolution, and perseverance, as well as God’s sovereignty. The story of Job presents complexity and raises questions as we contemplate God’s character, Satan’s attacks, and Job’s responses. When I read the book of Job, my questions quickly become, “How would I have responded if I were Job?” and “How do I act now when facing a period of difficulty?”
Losing hope is a dreadful experience. Many individuals have taken unimaginable actions when they felt hope was gone. At some point, they concluded that life was no longer worth living. The American psychiatrist Karl Menninger called hope “the major weapon against the suicide impulse.” When you feel hopeless, reach out for help. If you know someone struggling with hopelessness, guide them to the needed resources.
What is the difference between temptation and testing? Is there really a difference? Does God tempt us? Does God test us? And if he does, why is it necessary for believers to experience this?
Imagine packing for an eight-day trip, only to find yourself still away… two hundred eighty-six days later due to unforeseen circumstances! That’s what happened to astronauts, Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore. Their Starliner spacecraft successfully delivered them to the International Space Station but could not bring them home because of a mechanical failure. Recently, the SpaceX Crew-10 spacecraft launched, docked at the International Space Station, and returned the stranded astronauts to Earth. Williams’ first words upon returning were, “I’ve a really good feeling.”
One of my favorite authors is C. S. Lewis. I quote him often, yet I sometimes hold back to avoid giving the impression that he is the only author I read! However, if that were true, I believe I would be all the better for it. The great thing about Lewis is that since he passed away many years ago, he can’t change his doctrine like many contemporary writers have done.
We have followed Job’s disappointment with his friends and with God. Yet, a tension remains: pain persists, and God is sovereign. Job endures immense physical and emotional distress. He has questions and still longs to meet God in court. However, for now, Job shifts his focus from his loathsome situation to contemplating God’s greatness.
The beauty of studying Job lies in the fact that we’re not merely viewing a single snapshot but experiencing the whole story—from his blessings to his tragedies, including Job’s questions for God and God’s responses to him, culminating in Job’s restoration. Additionally, God gives us a glimpse into heaven, allowing us to listen in on his conversations with Satan. What a gift God has granted us in the book of Job!
Is there anything lonelier than pain? I’m not sure there is. When we know a friend or family member is going through a tough time, we reach out through texts, calls, and visits, doing our best to support them. Yet, most of the time, we must face our pain alone.