Lesson 10 for December 3, 2016

A fourth friend joined the group as Job’s friends heatedly argued with him.

Elihu remained silent for a while. Then, he started a long speech. That was the last attempt to make Job reflect on his sin.

“So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was

righteous in his own eyes.” (Job 32:1)

Job’s friends gave long speeches about important things, but they basically defended God’s character in how He was treating Job.

His “comforting” speech for Job was: God is punishing you in His mercy because of a hidden sin, so you repent.

Job maintained his innocence. He didn’t understand why he was suffering, but he remained faithful and he still trusted God (see Job 13:28; 19:25-27; 28:28).

We may know the truth, but we need humbleness and wisdom to understand how much truth can be applied in each moment.

“But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.” (Job 32:2-3 NIV)

Elihu began talking once Eliphaz, Bildadand Zophar were quiet. He was part of Nacor’s family (Abraham’s brother). Both his name (Elihu = “My God is Him”) and his father’s (Barakel = “God blesses”) prove he was a son of many generations of believers.

Elihu “became very angry”:

On Job, because he was justifying himself instead of justifying God.

On his friends, because they condemned Job but couldn’t refute his defense.

Did Elihu understand Job’s arguments? Was his wrath fair?

“Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the

Almighty pervert justice.”(Job 34:12)

Is God fair or is job an innocent victim? Elihu chose to defend God’s character and to accuse Job of impiety.

He actually defended God very well. He introduced Him as Creator, Sustainer, Wise, Just, Almighty… (Job 34:21-22; 36:5-7; 37:23-24).

1st OPTION: If God is fair, then…

Job deserves what’s happening to him.

2nd OPTION: If Job doesn’t deserve what’s happening to him, then…

God isn’t fair.

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” (Psalm 139:6 NIV)

Elihu was not wise and humble enough to accept a third option: God is fair and job didn’t deserve what was happening to him.

There’s a third party in this conflict: the devil was attacking Job so he wouldn’t trust God anymore.

The devil was a beautiful perfect cherub until evil was found in him (Ezekiel 28:12-17).

No one can explain how evil began in Lucifer. We cannot explain the consequences of sin that happen in our lives either. “It is mysterious, unaccountable; to excuse it is to defend it.” (E.G.W.

“The Great Controversy”, pp. 492, 493).

“You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3 NIV)

Were Job’s kindness and faithfulness the source of evil in his life? Why did his family and servants have to die? Was his suffering beneficial? It didn’t even make Satan accept his defeat. Was it worthy to accept Satan’s challenge?

There are many unanswered questions in the book of Job. We now know all the history of God’s revelation, so can we thoroughly answer those questions?

There’s a clear lesson in Job’s story; there are many things we don’t understand, but “the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4).

In which things do you need to trust God even if you don’t

understand them?

“No mortal mind can penetrate the

secrecy in which the Mighty One dwells

and works. We can comprehend no

more of His dealings with us and the

motives that actuate Him than He sees

fit to reveal. He orders everything in

righteousness, and we are not to be

dissatisfied and distrustful, but to bow

in reverent submission. He will reveal

to us as much of His purposes as it is for

our good to know; and beyond that we

must trust the hand that is omnipotent,

the heart that is full of love.”

E.G.W. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, cp. 31, p. 301)