DON’T jump into CONCLUSIONS
June 4
Bible Reading: Job Chapters 34-36
DON’T jump into CONCLUSIONS
"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from
God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For He repays man according to his work,
and makes man to find a reward according to his way." (Job 34:10-11)
Elihu
started his long and final discourse with the assertion that the three friends
of Job did not have any understanding even though they were many years older
than him (Job 32:4). “Great men are not
always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Therefore I say,
'Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.'” (Job 32:9-10). However, Elihu also jumped into a
conclusion that God repays people according to his work and rewards people on
this earth according to their deeds.
Elihu continued
his speech with a scathing criticism of Job’s hypocrisy and cynicism. He said
he could discern the flavor of Job’s speech and could expose it as a feeble
attempt at self-justification (Job 34:1–6; 13:18). In reality, however, Job was
no better than the sinner who loves to say that it never pays to serve the Lord
(Job 34:7–9). Elihu then concluded on a theological ground that since God was
holy and just, the reason for Job’s
suffering lies with Job himself (vv. 10–12). God is sovereign over all His
creation (vv. 13–15), and so He cannot be coerced or persuaded by earthly
rulers to do what is unjust (vv. 16–19). Such beings, powerful as they are,
will die, but God lives on, dealing with human beings only as they deserve (v. 20).
The premise of Job’s accusation was
that Job was suffering because of his past misdeeds. This was wrong because Job was
indeed a righteous man and God wanted to prove to Satan that Job would hold
fast to his integrity even though he undergoes suffering in his life. At the
end of the story, we see that Job was reinstated back to his original position
and he got back double of what he had earlier.
Let us be careful that we never jump
into any conclusions as to why someone is suffering in this earth. The wisdom and ways of God are
beyond our comprehension. "For My
thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than
your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
Let us know that everything that happens in our lives happens only with the knowledge and plan of God and everything will work out for good at the end. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
