I’ve Been Elihu
I know Elihu. Not personally, of course, since he lived more than 2,000 years ago. I know Elihu, and I suspect you do as well. In fact, like me you might have been Elihu earlier in your life. In the story of Job, Elihu speaks to Job and to Job’s three friends, who frankly struck out at the plate of encouragement and helpfulness with Job.
You know the sequence of events after Job’s shocking and tragic story of loss and suffering. His three friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came at Job with various comments, simultaneously trying to explain Job’s situation and correct his thinking, which would have required Job to own some blame for his situation. Job and his companions argue back and forth for several chapters, which seemed to provide little comfort or help to Job.
In chapter 32, we meet one more person who appears to have been watching and listening to the exchange between Job and his friends. In some ways we might applaud Elihu for trying to help. The scriptures tell us that he was younger than Job and his friends and out of respect for his elders simply listened and watched but didn’t participate in those arguments. So, we will give Elihu a point for respecting his older colleagues.
But we might have to take a point away from Elihu for his anger. When we meet Elihu in the story, we are told several times that he “burned with anger.” Over in the New Testament, Paul said, “Be angry and don’t sin.” That is often easier said than done. As a former therapist, I met with individuals, couples, and families whose pain came from anger that simmered and finally came out in destructive ways. Learning to feel our anger yet not let it control us or led us to vent in ways that are destructive requires spiritual discipline. Paul also said that we shouldn’t let the sun go down on our anger, indicating we can ignore or maintain our anger without it creating problems in us and for others.
Elihu was angry and apparently really angry, and it had been building through all of the speeches from Job’s three friends. They had, according to Elihu, not put Job or God in their proper places. Paul told Timothy not to let others look down on him because of his youth. So, in some ways maybe Elihu was stepping up to the plate, understanding that being young doesn't’ mean you can’t have wisdom. But on the other hand, it doesn’t appear that he had any wisdom that actually helped the situation. As Job’s story continues, no one, including God, bothers with addressing what was right or wrong with Elihu’s words. They simply ignore him completely.
I was very young, just a teenager, during some of my early ministry assignments. So early on I was given a lot of responsibilities to lead both youth and adults. I did the best I could, but honestly I often overreached because I did not have enough life experience or Bible knowledge. I am sure my “advice” wasn’t always from the Lord. I don’t remember anger being my issue, but I am confident I sometimes was misinformed in whatever wisdom I tried to apply to help others. Maybe Elihu was simply doing the same.
Regardless of our age, if we want to be led by the wisdom of God, it begins with humility. When we put ourselves in the right posture to receive from the Lord and we regularly practice the spiritual disciplines of scripture reading, meditation, prayer, and fasting, we will grow in our wisdom. Our goal is not to be wise but rather to be faithful in our obedience to God. He will provide the wisdom we need as a result of our obedience.
Father, forgive us for the times we have been motivated by anger and not by love. Forgive us for the times we have spoken for you when we should have been listening to you. Today we surrender to your plans for us. Fill us with your Holy Spirit as we seek you in prayer and in your word. Grant us wisdom for all of today’s activities. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Job 32:1-22, 33:12-33 ESV
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