God is Still Communicating

Job 32:1–6 CSB

1 So these three men quit answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God. 3 He was also angry at Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute him and yet had condemned him. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he. 5 But when he saw that the three men could not answer Job, he became angry. 6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know.

Chapter 32 begins a turning point.

There’s a lot at play here

let me try to break it down a little bit

What’s interesting is that the author of Job

has decided to break the fourth wall

and speak directly to us the reader.

The author does so with all introductory material.

He sums up the feelings and sentiments of the three friends.

Which in itself is kind of describing

because they are no longer called friends

now they are just the three men.

The author also sums up what they think about Job

that Job is righteous in his own eyes.

This is also describing

because no where did God ever say

that Job was righteous.

Job 1:8 CSB

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.”

We might associate what God said as righteous

but the rest oif the description

righteous in his own eyes tells the rest of the tale.

Also, it wasn’t God that introduced righteousness about Job

It was Eliphaz in Job 4:17

Job 4:17 CSB

17 “Can a mortal be righteous before God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?”

Eliphaz claims that Job says he is above God

These three claim that the problem isn’t being righteous

the problem is claiming that you are.

By claiming so,

a person therefore is convinced that he is.

It’s similar to claiming to be humble.

the minute you claim to be humble

you no longer are.

The three men are claiming that

it’s ok to be righteous

but it’s not ok to claim that you are

because that makes you righteous in your own eyes

or what we know today as self-righteous.

So the three men quit speaking

because there was no convincing Job.

Verse 2 begins a little differently

we get a detailed description about the fourth man, Elihu.

More detailed than any other description of the other three.

Job 32:2 CSB

2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God.

Let’s bring in the fourth member of Job’s party

Elihu

Elihu’s name means “He is my God”

If that weren’t interesting enough

the rest of his lineage helps to give some background

to this mysterious character.

He is of the clan Buzite.

It’s an easy thing to gloss over

except that the clan of Buzite

can be traced back to Abraham’s descendants

Genesis 22:20–21 CSB

20 Now after these things Abraham was told, “Milcah also has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel the father of Aram,

There is no real certainty among the scholars

about the definite location of his brithright.

It is significant that his lineage is mentioned

meaning as a younger man

he has enough family status to

entitle him to speak at all.

The last part of verse two gives way to his mood.

Job 32:2 CSB

2 Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite from the family of Ram became angry. He was angry at Job because he had justified himself rather than God.

IN the introduction of Elihu

it is mentioned that he is angry four different times

He is angry at Job because

he had justified himself rather than God

He is angry at the three friends

because after all their condemnation

they couldn’t prove anything and

because they didn’t have any answers to Job’s questions.

He doesn’t come among the three friends in chapter 2

We don’t know when he got there to be sure.

He may have been there all along.

We can make this assumption because

he is angry at at what he heard,

and he heard the whole dialogue since chapter 2.

He realizes though

at his age, it was disrespectful to speak

until all the dialogue had been said.

Job 32:4 CSB

4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were all older than he.

But after he waited and listened,

As the great theologian Popeye once said,

“He had alls he coulds stands,

and he can’t stands no more.”

so he begins his dialogue with a long introduction

that basically tells everyone

why he is speaking at all.

Job 32:6–14 CSB

6 So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite replied: I am young in years, while you are old; therefore I was timid and afraid to tell you what I know. 7 I thought that age should speak and maturity should teach wisdom. 8 But it is the spirit in a person— the breath from the Almighty— that gives anyone understanding. 9 It is not only the old who are wise or the elderly who understand how to judge. 10 Therefore I say, “Listen to me. I too will declare what I know.” 11 Look, I waited for your conclusions; I listened to your insights as you sought for words. 12 I paid close attention to you. Yet no one proved Job wrong; not one of you refuted his arguments. 13 So do not claim, “We have found wisdom; let God deal with him, not man.” 14 But Job has not directed his argument to me, and I will not respond to him with your arguments.

He basically tells the three friends

you are old so I held my tongue

but just because you are old

but seeing as you aren’t speaking for God I will.

It’s on.

Elihu Continues to address the three friends.

Job 32:15–22 CSB

15 Job’s friends are dismayed and can no longer answer; words have left them. 16 Should I continue to wait now that they are silent, now that they stand there and no longer answer? 17 I too will answer; yes, I will tell what I know. 18 For I am full of words, and my spirit compels me to speak. 19 My heart is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like new wineskins. 20 I must speak so that I can find relief; I must open my lips and respond. 21 I will be partial to no one, and I will not give anyone an undeserved title. 22 For I do not know how to give such titles; otherwise, my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Did you ever have someone in your life

that it takes them fifteen minutes to say their name?

Just get to the point!

One whole chapter goes by

and there still isn’t a point to what Elihu is trying to argue.

I’m going to chalk it up to youthfulness.

I remember the firrst message I ever gave.

THe pastor had given me about 5 minutes

to share with the congregation my testimony and calling.

He wanted to church to see me

because they were going to support me

when I went to seminary.

I got up to speak

and 25 minutes later I was finished.

Now that I am the pastor of a church

I can sympathize with his feelings toward me

and with the length of Elihu’s opening speech.

A young country boy had just finished Bible college

but had never preached a sermon.

When he arrived at the rural church

where he had been scheduled to preach,

he walked in and, to his disappointment,

there was only one man present.

The young preacher walked over to him,

shook his hand, and asked,

“Well, what do you think I oughta do?”

The old rancher said, “Well, I don’t rightly know, son;

I’m just a cowpoke.

But if I went out in my field and found only one steer,

I’d feed it.”

That’s all the young preacher needed.

He delivered a sermon

that went on and on and on … and on.

Over an hour later, he finally ended his marathon message.

He walked back to the rancher and asked,

“What’d you think?”

The old cowhand replied, “I don’t rightly know, son,

but I’ll tell you this:

if I went out in my field and found only one steer,

I wouldn’t feed him the whole load.”

Elihu is about to dump the whole load.

And the basic idea of his sermon

is that even when you don’t realize it

God is still communicating.

More introductory remarks begin in chapter 33

this time Elihu is addressing Job

and he sums up how he is going to present this to him.

Job 33:1–7 CSB

1 But now, Job, pay attention to my speech, and listen to all my words. 2 I am going to open my mouth; my tongue will form words on my palate. 3 My words come from my upright heart, and my lips speak with sincerity what they know. 4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5 Refute me if you can. Prepare your case against me; take your stand. 6 I am just like you before God; I was also pinched off from a piece of clay. 7 Fear of me should not terrify you; no pressure from me should weigh you down.

The tone is different than from the rest of the friends.

he is respectful, for now.

He explains that he is no different than Job

He is just as human and that

Job should feel free to interject at any time.

He then reads Job’s words back to him

Job 33:8–12 CSB

8 Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words: 9 “I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity. 10 But he finds reasons to oppose me; he regards me as his enemy. 11 He puts my feet in the stocks; he stands watch over all my paths.” 12 But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter, since God is greater than man.

All of these things Job has indeed said

and unlike the other three

Elihu quotes them verbatim

Then, Elihu gives his thesis for the rest of his statements

Job 33:13–14 CSB

13 Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks? 14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it.

God is Still Communicating

First, Elihu asks the valid question

why do you want to take God to court?

Let’s look at the total picture of this.

When a person takes someone else to court

it is to prove their case.

If I were accused of something

let’s say I was accused of murdering a church member.

Not that that has ever crossed my mind.

I would be taken to court and have to defend myself.

The goal of my defense would be to

prove the accusation false

which means I would need to prove the other side wrong.

Let's put that in this perspective

Job has stated from the very beginning that

he wants to defend himself against God.

In essence, I get what he wants to do.

He wants to prove his innocence

But what Elihu is saying is also true

that by proving his innocence

Job must in fact prove God wrong.

That’s a tall order

So Elihu begins with the accusation that Job has made

that God has not answered Job

or spoken to Job

when Job has had questions.

I don’t know about you

but there have been times in my life

when God is absolutely silent.

Sometimes it’s because I wasn’t ready to hear an answer

and most of the time,

it was because I wasn’t really looking for God to answer at all.

I already had the answer I wanted to hear

and that’s not the answer that God was giving me

so I didn’t really hear Him.

Regardless of what we may have thought about Job

or what we may think about Elihu

what is about to be communicated here

is important for all of us

and something we can remember as we go through life.

Elihu is going to give several ways that God communicates to us

that we may or may not have recognized in our lives.

Elihu is telling Job

God is still speaking

but it may not have been like you have wanted Him to

or through channels that you have expected

but God is still communicating.

I was asked to give answers to some questions

and these answers were recorded for social media.

At the time these were off the cuff responses

and although the answers were correct

they may not have been complete.

We communicate to God through prayer

and He communicates to us through His recorded Word.

That does not mean that He cannot use other means

to communicate to us.

However, ever method of communication

must be measured against the standard of God’s Word.

If it doesn’t match up to God’s Word

it isn’t from Him.

According to God’s Word,

He has already communicated

everything He needs to communicate to us in His Word.

Hebrews 1:1–2 CSB

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2 In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.

Revelation 22:18–19 CSB

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, which are written about in this book.

As we go through these various methods of communication from God,

please understand that these all must be weighed and measured

against His already communicated Word.

Through Dreams

The first way we see that He communicates is through dreams.

Job 33:13–15 CSB

13 Why do you take him to court for not answering anything a person asks? 14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. 15 In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds,

This is always a bit sketchy to talk about

It is biblically true that

God speaks through dreams and visions.

All throughout the Bible

God speaks to people through dreams

Even in the New Testament

God still communicated through dreams

So God no longer delivers His revelation through dreams.

He has already spoken as mentioned above.

Many a Christian often try to interpret dreams

and figure out what God was trying to say to them.

Isaiah 8:20 says as he was telling Israel about the prophets of the Old Testament.

Isaiah 8:20 CSB

20 Go to God’s instruction and testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them.

Today, dreams are not intended to

communicate new revelation from God.

Our dreams must be placed against the standard of God’s Word.

There are times when our dreams will communicate what God has already said.

meaning, there are times when I hear about our IMB personnel

that have shared the gospel with someone

and that someone will have a dream about what was shared.

In turn that person will be saved.

Even sometimes without hearing the gospel

people will have dreams about jesus

and then they will be saved.

Job 33:14–18 CSB

14 For God speaks time and again, but a person may not notice it. 15 In a dream, a vision in the night, when deep sleep comes over people as they slumber on their beds, 16 he uncovers their ears and terrifies them with warnings, 17 in order to turn a person from his actions and suppress the pride of a person. 18 God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.

This does not violate the Word of God

and it is indeed God communicating

with people to share His gospel.

Our dear brother Russell Abraham had such an experience

as have many others.

At the time of the writing of Job

it was believed that God could communicate through dreams.

But there is a second way that God communicates

Through Suffering

Job 33:19 CSB

19 A person may be disciplined on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,

Job 33:26 CSB

26 He will pray to God, and God will delight in him. That person will see his face with a shout of joy, and God will restore his righteousness to him.

The word disciplined in verse 19

can also be translated as instructed.

Suffering is often the way to deeper truths and insights.

We never learn more

than when we are in pain and suffering

if we allow God to teach us in those times.

C.S. Lewis once said

Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Through a Messenger

The last way God can communicate is through someone else.

again the disclaimer

unless it matches with the Word of God

it isn’t God.

Job 33:22–25 CSB

22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the executioners. 23 If there is an angel on his side, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what is right for him 24 and to be gracious to him and say, “Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom,” 25 then his flesh will be healthier than in his youth, and he will return to the days of his youthful vigor.

I would hope that we would believe that

God can communicate through other people.

There would be no point to us gathering

to hear me drone on about anything

if we didn’t believe that.

Not everyone that speaks about God

is speaking for God.

Paul gives this caveat to anyone speaking

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 CSB

1 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 CSB

21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 CSB

13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will be according to their works.

John gives the same warning

1 John 4:1 CSB

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The book of Acts shows the early church testing even the Word that was taught

Acts 17:11 CSB

11 The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Today we have the Word of God

as the primer, the measuring stick, the ruler, the standard of all things

Anything that does not measure up to the Word of God

is not the Word of God.

Life Experiences, dreams, preachers, even painful circumstances

all of these things must be measured to the Word of God.

One of the questions I was asked was

How can we tell the difference between the

God’s chastising and simply living in a fallen world?

How do we know the pain we are experiencing is God’s way of building faith

versus the worlds way of inflicting harm?

That’s a loaded and long answer question.

The simple answer is to follow up with these questions.

Are what we are going through consequences of our own actions?

An example is Lord, why am I in prison?

The Lord would say, because you broke the law.

That’s a consequence, not a chastisement.

However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t use that experience

to build faith and

leverage the opportunities to share the gospel.

There are other times in scripture that

God uses evil to accomplish His good.

The entire book of Job is a prime example.

The exile of Israel is another.

God uses evil empires to accomplish His good.

It was also a consequence of Israel’s idolatry.

Now, someone that get’s cancer, is that testing

or the world’s way of inflicting harm?

Actually it’s kind of both.

It could be a direct consequence of someone who is a smoker let’s say.

Or someone that has been exposed to toxins over a period of time.

However, it gives us the opportunity to grow in faith

and it is also a consequence of sin in the world

from the beginning of creation.

All that means is that God is still communicating.

Over the past month or better

all throughout the Christmas season

I have been struggling about hearing from God

instead of enjoying Christmas.

It’s like I was doing all the right things

but not experiencing any of the spirit of God in my life.

I’m used to having a strong quiet time

and having God take me through the scriptures in my morning routine

and it just wasn’t there.

I was numb.

I had been reading and praying

but nothing was happening.

I can’t explain why or what happened

but beginning this year,

I had to change something.

It wasn’t God’s problem, it was mine.

Something had to change.

I made some adjustments to my time with God

and some adjustments to my lifestyle

and lo and behold, there He was.

What was interesting about all this

the first quiet time of the year

I reflected on something that I had read

over the Christmas season

It wasn’t that God wasn’t communicating

it was that I wasn’t ready to receive what He was saying.

Stay diligent in His Word.

He is still communicating.

He is still sharing.

Even through means we may not realize.

God is still there.