Job 37:19-24
Verse 23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in His justice and great righteousness, He does not oppress.
Today we reach the end of the young defender’s speech. Elihu has done his best to point out the justice, love, care and might of God the Creator. He has shown how God’s justice is higher than anything we as humans can try to make happen. The Lord is in control of all creation and He will use it as pleases Him and so it will bring Him the greatest glory. The young man had done his best to help the other men see that our lives should be understood more in the light of God than they are about us.
Elihu began this final part of his speech with a final plea to the men to understand they had no case against the Lord. To think they had the right to be angry with Him was to say they equated themselves with Him or worse yet equated Him with themselves. We are far from the holiness the Lord has and therefore in darkness compared to Him. That means we should see we have no right to talk to God as if He should obey our commands.
Elihu also points out the men have no right to tell the Lord they are going to speak. We aren’t in a position to tell the Creator of the universe He needs to listen to us. In fact, it is prideful to think we have the right to demand anything from Him let alone demand an audience with Him. It isn’t like we have to demand a conversation with Him. When we are living in close relationship with Him, He desires to hear from us and wants to know what is on our heart.
More than just wanting to hear from us, Elihu went on to make sure the older men understand the Lord wasn’t far away. These bad things which had happened in Job’s life were not because God was far away and not paying attention to the man who was doing his best to live a righteous life. God was near and very aware of what was going on and He had a plan in it. And yet as close as He is, we can’t reach Him as an equal and shouldn’t even try.
There are things of the Lord we will never understand, there will be things which happen we don’t like and can’t see why He would allow them to happen but He doesn’t do them from a place of hate. He loves us and wants what is best for us. While Job had nearly everything removed from his life, God had bigger plans for his future, but only after the man came to understand the Almighty in the fullness of who He is. God desires us to know Him in the depth of understanding too.
Making It Personal
What have you learned about God recently? What does that new knowledge mean to your relationship with the Lord? Do you feel you have a better perspective of God’s position?
Making It Personal Kids
Have you learned anything new about Jesus lately? Has what you have learned changed how you think about Him? What are some things you want to do to please Jesus?
Closing Prayer
Father, You are more holy, mighty and beyond our very imagination. Please help us seek to know You more and to live in a way of accepting the things You are doing in and around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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