AN ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Elihu Burns With Anger

Elihu means “He is my God”; Barachel means “God blesses”.

Is it always wrong to be angry? If not, when is it okay? What are some things we should be on guard against when it comes to anger?

Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,”

Proverbs 14:29 “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”

Why has Elihu been silent up until this point?

Leviticus 19:32 ““You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.”

Do our elders always know best? How can we know if they are right or wrong about any given topic?

Psalm 119:99 “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”

What was Elihu’s reaction to hearing so many wrong things said? Can you identify with that feeling? Can you think of any people in Scripture who had a similar experience?

Jeremiah 20:9 “If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.”

Elihu’s Anger Against the Friends

Why was Elihu so angry with Job’s friends? Do you think Elihu agreed with their accusations against Job?

Job 32:3 “He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.”

See Job 32:11-15...

Was Elihu’s anger against Job’s friends justified or not?

Job 42:7 “After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Elihu’s Anger Against Job

Why was Elihu angry with Job?

Job 32:2 “Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God.”

How was Elihu’s disagreement with Job different than the friends’ disagreement with Job?

Elihu came to Job in humility. He didn’t think he was better than Job or that Job was somehow beneath him.

See Job 33:1-7...

2. Elihu wasn’t trying to prove Job’s guilt. He wanted to see him vindicated.

Job 33:31–33 “Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.””

3. Elihu didn’t think that Job’s sin was the cause of his suffering. He did think that Job had sinned while he was suffering. He wanted Job to recognize and repent of his sinful attitude while suffering. He wanted Job to magnify the Lord instead of magnifying himself. He wanted Job to remember how much greater God is than mankind, to humble himself before God, and to trust in God’s greater wisdom and justice.

See Job 34:1-9...

See Job 34:34-37...

Job 35:16 “Job opens his mouth in empty talk; he multiplies words without knowledge.””

Job 36:1–3 “And Elihu continued, and said: “Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.”

Job 36:21–24 “Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction. Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’? “Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.”

Justification for Elihu’s Anger

Do you think God agreed with Elihu’s assessment of the situation?

Job 38:1–2 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”

Job 40:2 ““Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.””

Job 40:8 “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?”

Do you think Job agreed with Elihu’s assessment of the situation?

Job 40:3–5 “Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.””

Job 42:3 “‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

Job 42:6 “therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.””

In light of this, how should it affect the way we view the things that Elihu had to say?