The Wrath of Elihu – Discussion Starters
- Miserable comforters. How would you like to be visited in the hospital after serious cancer surgery by one of Job’s “friends”? Have you ever been drawn into an argument between you and God about what is fair? Do you ever plead with God, “Why? Why?” Or do you stop talking to God when you can tell He is on a different wavelength? Why? or Why not?
- Eliju enters. What kind of a comforter is Eliju, compared with the other three? Some Bible readers consider Eliju’s advice as no better, no worse, than the words of the other speakers. What do you think? Why was Eliju so angry? Did Job have every right to be just as angry–or even more so–at Eliju? Was he?
- Eliju’s defense of God. Some scholars see Eliju’s contribution to the discussion as a vindication of God. Do you? If so, how so? Or do you see this young man’s discourse as nothing more–or less–than a repetition of what the other “friends” were saying? What is different about Eliju compared with the other three?
- The irrationality of evil. To what extent is the book of Job about the controversy between good and evil? Does the evil one try his best to confuse us about the Christian’s role in a sinful and painful world? Is God’s love rational? By whose standards?
- The challenge of faith. Do you understand why bad things happen to you? You hit a telephone pole and wreck your car. Your fault, right? But you swerved just in time to miss hitting an eight-year-old weaving into your path on his bicycle. Can we hold on to our faith in Jesus no matter what happens?
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[Edited]
Let's discuss these major questions. I can say some have happened to me personally and I've even asked God, why me? Because of the situation that I was in. The book of psalms is another great book; in 35 David never asked God why me, but he rather told of what God is capable of doing in the same way as Job.
Many people think that maybe what is happening to other people is fair but to them is not fair.
I can only try to explain how irrational evil can be...it makes us question things that dont even connect to the situation...if we understand that bad things don't all happen because of our sins sins only ..or that good things happen because of our faithfulness..we will learn that God is God in good and bad times..He only provides to us what He sees good for us..He wants the best for us...to learn from that situation to always trust Him. like Job...he knew what kind of God ..God is..that's why job never bothered in saying a lot to God directly ...but rather he didn't move in his faith towards God... God be praised always..
The nuggets of truth presented by Elihu are burried under the layers of false and wrong assumptions and conclusions about Job's situation