God Is Seen And Speaks Through Afflictions Given To Us

Elihu is the only one God did not have Job offer prayer and a sacrifice as God requested for Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad, for Elihu had spoken truth to Job. Elihu's said: Job 33: Job, you say: I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free of guilt. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. Job 34:5 Job says, " I am innocent, but God denies me justice, although I am right I am considered a liar."Elihu said: Job 33:12 But I tell you, in this, you are not right, for God is greater than man. Why do you complain to the Lord that he answers none of man's words? Job 33:14 For God Does Speak--now one way or another------though man may not perceive it. In a dream, a vision of the night, a deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds and God may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn from wrong doing and KEEP HIMSELF FROM PRIDE to preserve his soul from the PIT. Elihu goes on speaking about the greatness of God, the Maker's right is holy and just, in all his decisions. As Job had complained about no answer from God, Elihu pointed out some very truthful facts that should be considered in all sufferings of man. Elihu said: Job 35:2 Do you think this is just? You say, I will be cleared by God. Yet, you ask him, "what profit it is to me, and what do I gain by not sinning? Job 35:5 Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. If you sin, how does that effect HIM? If your sins are many, what does that do to HIM? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand?Job 35:8 Your wickedness affects only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men.Job 35:9-11 Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But No One Says: "Where is God my Maker who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to beast of the earth and MAKES us wiser than the birds of the air?Job 35:12 He does not answer when men cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. Indeed God does not listen to their empty pleas; the Almighty pays no attention to it. Job 35:14 How much less,then, will HE listen when "You Say, you DO Not See HIM? That your case is before Him and you MUST WAIT for HIM?And further, that His anger never punishes and HE does not take the least notice of the wickedness.Job 35:16 So, Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words. Elihu continues: Job 36:15-16 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; God speaks to them in their affliction.Job's affliction was God speaking to him. In Job's affliction God gave him through Satan, God was speaking to Job. Job was not seeing it and was in this affliction about 2 yrs give or take. Next time you're being afflicted, stop and search out what God is speaking to you, for God is speaking to us in our affliction.Don't think God is hiding himself from you, but rather the Lord is deeply involved with you in the affliction cast upon you. Search Him for understanding in it. The Lord will make it known to you.__________________