No Explanation Needed

“Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.” (Job 33:13 AV)

Many wonder why Elihu was never rebuked by God.  It could be the statement above.  Elihu, although just as insinuating as his three companions, and perhaps with an unclear or sullied motive, did utter the wisdom of the matter.  Job spent much time trying to wrestle with the reason the LORD allowed what He allowed.  It wasn’t so much that Job was demanding an answer from God, which he was not, but rather, trying to come to peace with it.  The latter part of the statement above was exactly what Job needed to hear.  God and Satan have a thing going.  Job was he which would prove God right.  Job was not a pawn in some grand game between two egotistical forces.  He was the evidence that man could love God and worship him separate and apart from his circumstances.  Job was God’s trophy of grace and He wasn’t about to let the Devil question God’s effectiveness on mankind.  But as far as God and Job were concerned, the point being made was God’s sovereignty and man’s patient faith.  God rebuked Job with the same truth, which Elihu expressed.  God is God, and He does as He pleases.  He owes no one an explanation, nor does He have to justify Himself.  Coming to terms with that is the beginning of accepting God as and who He is.

It is in our human nature to require accountability from those who lead.  This is not a bad thing.  Our elected officials are supposed to be accountable to the people who put them there.  The constitution of the United States is meant to keep our leaders honest.  The law is the supreme ruler and not those who lead.   Therefore, there are checks and balances in place to hold accountable those who would serve in the law.  At least that is how it is supposed to work.  Parents are the authority to which the educational system is accountable.  Or, at least, that is how it is supposed to work.  The educational institutions paid for by parents work in the parents' best interest.  Or at leas that is how it is meant to work.  The teacher, no matter how much training or intellect he or she has, does not replace the authority of the parent.  They are to be held accountable for what they teach and how they teach it.  There needs to be checks and balances because they we human and humans are fallible.  Even a pastor must account for his testimony and leadership to the people whom he is leading.  We are told not to lord over the flock and if we have done anything worthy of church discipline, we are to be brought before the church.  Accountability and answering for one’s actions to another is needful for human relationships to work.  This is not so with God.

God is perfect and makes no mistakes.  He is accountable to no one.  Whatever He chooses to do is perfect and holy.  There is no fault found in Him.  If He chooses to enlighten His creation as to why things are the way they are, He does so from grace and not from moral obligation.  When we demand that God give cause for His actions, we fail to see God is not a temporal being who owed us that answer.  He is eternal, almighty, and the power that sustains all.  He has the physical and moral right to do as He pleases without giving justification.  Elihu didn’t get everything right.  He did get the premise right.  What follows this opening statement supports the accusations of his friends.  Rather than telling Job he was a sinner, he simply states that if he was, God does not owe him an explanation.  We would do well to let God be God.  Who are we to demand anything from Him?  He is the Creator and sustainer of all things.  If He so wishes, He could eradicate us from existence.  He could do anything His holiness would permit and not utter a sentence as to why.  That was the lesson Job had to learn.  This is a lesson we all need to learn.