tidbits from Job 32

November 23, 2010

Reading Job this time around, I was most attracted to the ending chapters, where the young man Elihu sets Job and his three friends straight and God speaks to Job himself and reveals how wondrous and awesome God's ways are and how utterly unfathomable and incomprehensible His dealings with nature, the world, and us are for our little brains. No way can we ever challenge God; in nothing can we ever even have a foothold of an argument with Him, because God is God, and we are not. While we are limited in our wisdom, knowledge and understanding, He is not; and what little wisdom and understanding we have was all imparted to us by God. I loved the end of Job; reading the chapters made me feel such awe and amazement.

I particularly liked Job 32 this time around. Four things stuck out to me.

First, Elihu is respectful of those older than him, and I'm sure this respect goes towards, in general, the people around him.

11I waited while you spoke,

I listened to your reasoning;

while you were searching for words,

12I gave you my full attention.

Elihu is respectful and listens to others first. In our society today, respect seems to be quite rare and seems to be something that must be earned. To be honest, I think we shouldn't give respect based on whether or not the person has earned it or lost it. But in practice, I inevitably fall into that. Sometimes, I catch myself 'losing' respect for others because of their actions. But this is wrong. Now, let me differentiate between two kinds of respect though. One definition of respect is to hold someone else in high esteem or admiration. This is not the 'respect' I allude to, since it is not feasible to admire everyone. The second definition of respect is 'to feel or show deferential regard for.' To show deferential regard for means to be courteous, civil, etc. I feel that we should always treat the people around us, God's children and creation, with this type of respect. Even if they differ in opinions, ideas, and morality from us. I like to read online articles/blogs a lot, and I'm always amused by the very disrespectful comments fellow readers sometimes like to make on people's articles/blogs that address and speak of different opinions or ideas from their own. It's a sad thing really, when we start disrespecting each other and treating those different from us as second-rate people, for who would want to listen to the opinions of such people who treat others like that? And especially us as Christians, we are to be the witnesses and representatives of Christ; a weighty responsibility indeed, so how much more should we as the sons and daughters of God treat those around us with respect.

Second (this goes along with the first point), Elihu listens. I'm learning to do this. To listen to others, before speaking. To show consideration and care for what others say, before sharing my own thoughts and ideas. If we do not listen and show that we care about what others say, why would they listen to us and care about what we say? So, listening is important. Listening to authority figures, to our parents, to our friends, teachers, and leaders. God has placed these people in our lives to impart their wisdom and insight to us, and we'd be foolish to let God-given opportunities go to waste. Listening to God is also important. It's easier sometimes to pray and talk to God, then to sit and listen to what it is that He may want to say to us. God is a living and speaking God, and we must learn to listen for His words and wait patiently for His responses when we pray to Him for guidance and discernment. Sometimes, in our impatience and haste, we throw out a few quick prayers for guidance and discernment, then busy about on our own, making a way for ourselves and causing more trouble, when sometimes the wisest thing to do is to pray, leave situations in His hands, and wait and listen for His words and answers.

Thirdly, wisdom is not just for the people further along in life. God imparts wisdom to us young ones too if we'd only continually seek and desire it from God.

8But it is the spirit^b in a man,

the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.

9It is not only the old^c who are wise,

not only the aged who understand what is right.

Indeed, it is God's spirit within us that gives us understanding and it is God who gives wisdom to us. He does not just give these things to people who are older in age. Nope, God gives when we ask, so may we continually seek for His wisdom and understanding and not merely dismiss ourselves because we are young and so think we have an excuse to not seek out wisdom, maturity, and understanding in our own lives. May we not think that wisdom and understanding are but reserved for those 'holy' people who are older and well along in their life, but may we realize that they were once just as young as we are now, and that their spiritual maturity, wisdom, insight, and understanding comes from a steadfast heart that has persistently sought after God himself, His life, His discernment, wisdom, and understanding, a heart that both fears and desires God alone.

Last, but not least, Elihu had the passion within him to speak God's truths and words. These verses are my favorite:

17I too will have my say;

I too will tell what I know.

18For I am full of words,

and the spirit within me compels me;

19inside I am like bottled-up wine,

like new wineskins ready to burst.

20I must speak and find relief;

I must open my lips and reply.

21I will show partiality to no one,

nor will I flatter any man;

22for if I were skilled in flattery,

my Maker would soon take me away.

I recently watched "Faith Like Potatoes." Lots of good thoughts from that movie. The movie basically depicts the true story of this potato farmer who became a Christian. After he accepted Jesus into his life, he was always excited to share his newfound faith and belief in God. His passion and sincerity came to mind when reading this part of the chapter. I really liked the description by Elihu of the passion he had for speaking God's words, and how the Spirit within him compels him and how he must speak or feel like he'll burst. Sometimes I feel like that; when reading God's words so amaze and intrigue me with how much wisdom and life they contain that I just want to share with people, otherwise it feels like I'd burst from the excitement, haha. I pray that the Spirit within us would compel us to speak God's truths and words to people. To share with others His words that give life, and that is necessary for the redemption of all our souls. To have that excitement to share with others God's amazing truths and wondrous ways that transcend all our own knowledge and understanding.

We share God's words, not so we can get the flattery of others, to have others say we're so wise and mature, so full of insight, but that they would turn to God. In our words, may God be glorified and not us. I liked that Elihu said that he shows partiality to no one. We do not tell people what they want to hear, and hide the things they don't want to hear, we speak as God directs and compels us to. We speak the words God gives us through the Bible and through his spirit, and those words may not necessarily be what others want to hear. Now I'm not advocating we just go out and speak as we wish, but that when we speak God's words, we do so with tact and with correct timing. Elihu gives us some insight into how that would look in this chapter: he waited, he respected, he listened, then at the compelling of the Spirit, he spoke, not to flatter these men who were older than him, but to speak the truths of God- to rightfully represent and be a witness of God.