Job Chapter 35
Please read: Job 35 –
This young man named Elihu thinks that he knows more about God than Job and his three friends combined. He continued to make sweeping accusations while misinterpreting what Job had said. He thinks that Job has meant that it doesn’t matter if he has sinned or not because God is ignoring him. Job never said that it didn’t matter if he sinned, it mattered dearly to him to be in a right standing before God. And Job never said anything to the effect of his sin would or would not cause God pain. Elihu seems to think that God is not affected by our sins. He is righteous and holy and passes judgement upon our sins, but they do not affect Him. We know that this is incorrect. Our sin deeply hurts the heart of God.
Elihu goes on to explain that just because Job is crying out to God, it doesn’t mean that he has a right relationship with God. In fact, he implies that Job is just like all the sinners of the world that when they face a difficult time they cry out to God, but they really do not expect God to answer because they do not believe that He really hears them. I think this is the worst accusation Elihu made yet. He accused Job of being a non-believer, a man so sinful that God would not respond to his cries. And he sums it up by saying that all of Job’s words are just empty talk.
Let's Reflect
1. Elihu begins this chapter with what he thinks is a question that makes common sense. He tells Job to think about if he hadn’t sinned, wouldn’t he be better off? Elihu assumes, like the other 3 friends, that Job is covering up or lying about his sins. What strange question did he ask Job about his sins in verse 6?
2. According to verse 5 what did Elihu point to that separates God from mankind proving that our sins do not affect His heart? He is correct in thinking that God is so great, but the perceived distance does not mean that God is not near.
3. Upon hearing Job cry out to God, what does he say Job is accusing God of? See verse 10?
4. Elihu states that God does not answer the cry of the people of the earth when they are in trouble. What does he say stops God from answering them?
5. It is as if Elihu is shaking his finger at Job and saying, “you are just like all the other heathens of the world who cry out empty cries to God and what right do you think you have Job to demand that God answer you?” Does God have to answer any human that cries out to Him?
6. We have read previously about the reputation Job had among the people of his town. He was well respected and people listened to what he taught them about God. In contrast what did Elihu accuse him of?
