- Lesson 10 in the Connect360 unit “Praise Him in the Storm: When Life Falls Apart” focuses on Job 32:1-10; 33:2-4, 22-30; 35:9-10; 37:14-24.
Elihu was wise beyond his years. He had listened quietly as Job and his three friends complained against God. Elihu finally had enough. After Elihu introduced himself, he began to speak directly to Job. Elihu’s perspective came from his belief that he was created by God. Nothing nor no one is greater than the Creator. Elihu’s message to Job was a reminder that God can and will speak to people in several ways. Elihu helped Job to understand God can speak through pain, dreams and angels. Elihu supported his argument even further by speaking more on the topic of angels. As messengers of God, angels can be present with the responsibility to serve as mediators between God and people in particular.
The purpose of Elihu’s message was to remind his listeners that God was concerned about humanity and had made a way for reconciliation when their life-actions lead them toward the pit. The use of the word pit is synonymous with death. We all are going to die one day, if the Lord delays his coming. Death, however, is not the end. A relationship with God removes the pain and power of the pit. Even though we all will die a real, physical death; life in Christ ensures everlasting life. Elihu called it, “…the light of life” (33:30). The life Job and his friends wanted was there for them all the while. The epic problem for them was they had allowed their present circumstances to represent their spiritual relationship with God. Elihu’s message to his senior friend was: Your theology is wrong—God has not abandoned you.
Elihu acknowledged the presence of pain and suffering in life. He called it a “load of oppression,” but he also reminded his listeners that when bad occurrences happen to good people, do not ask, “Where is God, my Maker?” (35:10). Instead, be thankful God has a Messenger, and his name is Jesus. He’s our Mediator, the man in the middle who gave his life as a ransom for our sin, while also covering our sins and giving us all reason upon reason to shout for joy—even in the storms, when life seems to be falling apart.
To learn more about GC2 Press and the Connect360 Bible study series, or to order materials, click here.
We seek to connect God’s story and God’s people around the world. To learn more about God’s story, click here.
Send comments and feedback to Eric Black, our editor. For comments to be published, please specify “letter to the editor.” Maximum length for publication is 300 words.