An Incomplete Account of Suffering
Day 52: Elihu
Job 32-37
- I read this response by the younger Elihu (younger than Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) a few weeks ago but never got to my response because of how long this reading was.
- Elihu is upset because none of the three friends of Job have been able to give Job a reasonable answer to why he is suffering. Since they were his elders, he allowed them to speak first. But now he felt that he must say something.
- Elihu's reasons for Job are a bit better than the three. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were unphased by the idea that suffering is always directly linked to sin. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is not always true when we look at other exampls from the bible (eg. David). Elihu explains that sufferring is a way for God to teach, discipline and refine us. However, he still is under the assumption that God always responds to our cries (33:13-18). He assumes that Job is arrogant and unrepentant for something that he has done.
Sometimes, suffering is not understood. We must put our trust in the Lord for who he is rather than for what he does. Even when there doesn't seem to be a logical explanation, we must trust in the sovereignty of God and accept suffering as part of His will. He is in control and that is all that matters. Definitely easier said than done.
Job 32-37
- I read this response by the younger Elihu (younger than Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) a few weeks ago but never got to my response because of how long this reading was.
- Elihu is upset because none of the three friends of Job have been able to give Job a reasonable answer to why he is suffering. Since they were his elders, he allowed them to speak first. But now he felt that he must say something.
- Elihu's reasons for Job are a bit better than the three. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar were unphased by the idea that suffering is always directly linked to sin. As I mentioned in a previous post, this is not always true when we look at other exampls from the bible (eg. David). Elihu explains that sufferring is a way for God to teach, discipline and refine us. However, he still is under the assumption that God always responds to our cries (33:13-18). He assumes that Job is arrogant and unrepentant for something that he has done.
Sometimes, suffering is not understood. We must put our trust in the Lord for who he is rather than for what he does. Even when there doesn't seem to be a logical explanation, we must trust in the sovereignty of God and accept suffering as part of His will. He is in control and that is all that matters. Definitely easier said than done.
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posted by Matt at 4:15 PM
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