verticallife

“For God does speak – now one way, now another – though man may not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.” (Job 33:14-18)Though there were many times when Job’s friends simply didn’t get it, there were times they were right. Truth is, God does speak, whether we want to listen to Him or not. He does try to get our attention. Elihu was right. God does speak.

What was false at this point though was that Elihu was thinking God was trying to get Job’s attention because of the sin in his life. Elihu still believed that nothing bad would happen to good people. Job must have done something to deserve this.

Repeating his words Elihu said, “Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God denies me justice.’” (34:5) He then leveled an accusation. “He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with wicked men.” (34:9) You see, “He repays a man for what he has done; he brings upon him what his conduct deserves,” right? God is just. People get what they deserve, right? It’s not that easy. Just because your husband left you doesn’t mean God is punishing you for something you did. The reason you lost your job doesn’t mean God is putting you through some form of discipline. When a friend betrays your trust, it doesn’t mean God is trying to get your attention.

Jesus said, “in this world you will have trouble.” You will have trouble. That’s the problem with our world. It rains (or in our case, it snows) on the righteous and unrighteous alike. We will face fears. Problems will press in. “You will have trouble,” Jesus said. But our hope is in his next statement. “…but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Maybe you’re going through tough times. Maybe you have “friends” like Job: “So Job opens His mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.” (35:16) Maybe there are people around you giving you false information. Know this. Our hope is in the One who overcame the world. When you place your trust in Him, you will find hope in Him.

“My prayer is not that You would take them out of the world but that You would protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) That’s our prayer as well.