WHEN FAITH MEETS FAITH

JOB 32-33

Pastor Rick Jackson

There is a difference of opinion concerning Elihu amongst Christians. Some claim him to be like Job’s 3 friends and another tool of the Devil while others believe him to be an earnest youth, not perfect, but certainly a tool of God. Count me as one of the latter for several reasons.

1) Elihu is sensitive to Job’s suffering
2) Elihu claims God is his source of wisdom- not age, intelligence or experience
3) when God rebukes Job’s 3 friends he does not rebuke Elihu

I. ELIHU’S INTRODUCTION [32]

1. His Wrath [v. 1-3]

2. His Restraint [v. 4-6]

3. His Inspiration [v. 7-22, 1 Corinthians 2:11]

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

II. ELIHU’S EXPLANATION [33:1-11]

1. From the Heart [v. 1-3]

2. From Commonality [v. 4-7]

3. From Paying Attention [v. 8-11]

III. ELIHU’S THEOLOGY [33:12-33]

1. God is Worthy [v. 12-13, Romans 3:4]

…yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Is. 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith 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.

2. God is Working [v. 14-25] Esp. v. 18 cf. II Cor. 12:7-10

3. God is Waiting [v. 26-33]

Hebrews 12 teaches that there are 3 ways to meet the chastening hand of God

1) despise it [v. 5] as though God was not involved in it
2) faint under it [v. 5] be a quitter
3) be exercised by it [v. 11]