Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — continued

33:1-7
Elihu politely asked Job to listen to him. He promised to speak honestly and sincerely. Elihu told Job, and his critics, that he made no pretense at being anything other than a fellow human being made by God.

33:8-18
Elihu began by telling Job that he had listened to every word he had said. In fact, Elihu quoted some of Job’s words back to him (33:9-11). Job’s words asserted his innocence and accused God of treating him like an enemy. Elihu told Job, “You’re wrong. God is greater than man. So stop complaining.” Job had said that God would not speak to him. Elihu said that the problem was that Job was not listening. Elihu pointed out three ways in which God speaks to men. First, God speaks to men through dreams, often speaking a word of warning that will keep a man from destruction.

33:19-22
Second, God speaks to men through pain. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” God can certainly get our attention through pain. It can serve as an incentive to evaluate our values and priorities and make certain that they are properly ordered.

33:23-33
Third, God speaks to men through others. Elihu said that God speaks to men through angels, either a heavenly being or a human messenger who represents God to man. Elihu saw himself as just such a messenger to Job. He told Job to listen up! God had been speaking to Job through his suffering. And so, Elihu told Job that God is not silent. If we are to have a right view of God we must understand that God is not silent.