Job 37

Elihu Concludes

Note: I will cover chapter 38 with tomorrow's reading.

Elihu concludes his speech to Job by discussing God's awesome power (this began in chapter 36, verse 22).  He reiterates all of the things that God manifests his power in through nature. His voice is like thunder. He controls the clouds and rains.  God controls the heat and cold.  The whole universe is under his control.

Elihu's final plea to Job is for Job to consider this power of God. If God controls all the elements and natural events on Earth, then God controls what happens to people.  "We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty; but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us." (v. 23). The message of Elihu is that God's power is beyond human understanding, thus it is possible that this which Job is suffering is beyond Job's ability to understand it, at least at the moment.

Because Elihu is more descriptive of the mercy and understanding of God, his speech to Job is differentiated from those by his other three friends.  Elihu demonstrates a close walk and knowledge of the Almighty and, though not content with Job's attitude, provides a way for Job to put his suffering and condition within a context of God's will.  Note that Job never refutes Elihu and that God does not rebuke him with the other friends (see  42:7-9).

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.