That's It!

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.” (Job 37:23 AV)

Elihu had a lot of things right.  This statement is the last of his dialogue.  He should have said this at the first and be done with it.  The context of this statement is the sovereign acts of God.  He rehearses God’s hand in all that He does and asks Job if he can understand the wonderous works of God.  Then he makes this statement.  It is appropriate that this be the last words of opinion from man.  After reasoning it all out, what Elihu is saying is even though we cannot understand all that God does, how He does it, or even why He does what He does, what God will not do is afflict without cause.  Either it will be a matter of justice; that is because He must judge sin.  Or, a matter of judgment: that is, it is the right thing to do.  Either way, there is a reason for what God causes or allows and that reason is based on His holiness and sovereignty.  The fact we may not be able to understand it does not change the nature and purposes of God.  This is the lesson of Elihu to Job.

Putting ourselves in the place of Job, it would be natural to ask, ‘why’.  If we lost our family, we would naturally ask, ‘why’.  If we lost every material possession through not fault of our own, we would ask ‘why’.  If we were to suffer a serious illness, we would ask ‘why.’  The question suggests God’s nature is not consistent.  To ask ‘why’ once or twice, is seeking wisdom.  But repeatedly asking the question demands an answer.  Elihu is revealing the comforting truth in all this.  God does not allow or cause anything for no purpose at all.  There is always cause.  Job couldn’t see it.  Neither can we.  That does not mean God doesn’t have purpose.  Trusting God without seeing purpose is the problem.  This is where faith comes in.

When we are facing the worst of all circumstances, no matter how deep the water is, we have to believe the truth above.  We have to believe that God does not afflict without a cause.  No matter how hard the experience, we have to believe God has caused or allowed it for a purpose greater than ourselves.  When the LORD allows hard times, we have to believe God is who He claims He is.  When the LORD allows Satan to have a temporary advantage, we have to believe the LORD is still in control and one day, it will all make sense.