Job 35 – God will see us through

Job’s earlier statement seemed to suggest that there is no profit for a man to do what’s right. We can understand why he made such a statement. Bear in mind that God Himself testified in chapters 1 and 2 that Job was like none other on earth. God said that Job was righteous and was pleasing to Him. But then came the barrage of afflictions without any explanation. The troubles did not just trickle, they came pouring like a mighty torrent. His family and property were wiped out in a day. And here he was, left to struggle with his ill health. He couldn’t make sense of his affliction, and in searching found no wrong to warrant such a treatment. Making a blunder statement was not intentional but situational. A close examination of his life shows that he didn’t do anything to justify such an affliction. 

Elihu on the other hand was like a Monday morning quarterback. It is always easier to criticise others when one is not affected by the situation. So here in Job 35, he proceeded to answer him saying that neither godliness not unrighteousness affects God. The Almighty is far too exalted to be affected by anything a human being does. Elihu refuting Job, said that since God is so highly exalted, He could not be touched by man’s righteousness or his ungodliness. So, the effect caused by being righteous or godless remains in the realm of man’s experience. It does not affect God either way. This is a fallacy that God was nonchalant about how we conduct our life since He is so transcendent and highly exalted. Elihu explained why the cries of sufferers were not heard by God. The reason he proposed was because they were merely crying out in pain and not really making a true appeal to God. People who know their God, he insisted, would not inquire “Where is God my maker?” For God could be known through fellowship and in observing the way He deals with us. God does not answer the plea of an empty cry. It suggests that even when the righteous approaches God the wrong way, they should not expect God to pay any attention to their plea.

From this excerpt of Elihu in Job 35, we learn that God watches over man and will deal justly with man, even when we do not understand or cannot explain what we are experiencing. When going through suffering, no one has seen the end yet. For God is silently listening to our cries even though we are not aware of it. Hence, we must wait for the outcome and be confident that God will never lead us to where His grace won’t be able to sustain us. He does hear our cry, even the silent one!