Job 31 – 32
Job makes his final appeal in chapter 31 and the questions start coming. Verse 31:4 is the start of trying to find the reason why:
Does not he see my ways
and number all my steps?
God loves us so much He watches every move. To me I have no idea why He would care to “number all my steps.” I understand He knows the number of hairs on my head, but again have to ask why. Think about all the useless knowledge we have trapped in our heads. I think the problem is we “personify” God on the limitations of our mind. I don’t think God cares how many steps we take or how much hair is on our heads, but unlike mankind this useless information is not clouding God’s mind.
Verses 31:24 & 28 sum up this chapter as far as the line of questioning:
24 “If I have made gold my trust
or called fine gold my confidence,28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,
for I would have been false to God above.
Through this chapter Job is going through a laundry list of sins and how he perceives his adherence to God. I guess this one specifically attracted me since I have been accused of being hung up on money. My perception is I just want out of debt and be able to work on my own. At the same time I really think it’s more a desire for freedom or a perception of freedom. And unfortunately that freedom is not necessarily what God wants for me right now. See I want the freedom to tell my boss off if I ever wanted to and therefore is the wrong motivation.
Now Job has been said to be a righteous man and pleased God. I am interested with the next chapter how a younger Elihu finally talks. Apparently, he was listening to everyone and not voicing his opinion since he was the youngest of the bunch.
Verse 31:6 sets the stage for why Elihu remained silent:
And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
“I am young in years,
and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
Often the youngest among us is the most insightful because their minds are not clouded with personal opinion. We all tend to read the Word and apply the filter of life to understand the words. Often times someone who is not “jaded” from “life” can see the pureness of God’s word. The key here is don’t dismiss someone just because they are younger, for their advice may be just what you need.