Job 36-37

Job 36:4 (NIV)

Be assured that my words are not false;

one perfect in knowledge is with you.

This phrase, “perfect in knowledge,” is used to describe God in the next chapter.

Job 37:16 (NIV)

Do you know how the clouds hang poised,

those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 36-37 contain picturesque and powerful descriptions of the supremacy of God. Yet something feels just a little off about these chapters. This is Elihu’s final speech in Job, and I’m just not sure what to think of Elihu. He is a young man driven by passion and frustrated by Job’s friends’ inability to convince Job of his sin. Elihu speaks much truth about the greatness of God, yet it is built on a foundation of arrogance that colors everything he says. Ultimately his conclusion is no different than that of Job’s friends.

Job 36:11-12 (NIV)

If they obey and serve him,

they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity

and their years in contentment.

But if they do not listen,

they will perish by the sword

and die without knowledge.

Elihu falls right back into the argument that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. He then goes on to challenge Job’s appeal to God.

Job 37:14, 19-20 (NIV)

“Listen to this, Job;

stop and consider God's wonders.

“Tell us what we should say to him;

we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

Should he be told that I want to speak?

Would any man ask to be swallowed up?

He is telling Job that he should not be so bold as to ask to speak with a God who is powerful and unapproachable. Yet in the very next chapter God will respond directly to Job. Elihu understands that to approach God is to invite death. God is unapproachable. Yet here is Elihu claiming to have the same kind of perfect knowledge that God has. It makes me wonder how many times I have had my theology slightly tilted and yet was arrogant enough to think I had it all right. Probably more than I care to know.

There must be a humility to our faith that we too often fail to embrace. Truth is important. Correct theology is vital. What we believe about God matters. Yet we can have our theology almost perfect, and still have it tainted by arrogance. In chapter 38, the unapproachable God draws near to the very one Elihu and company claim is undeserving of God’s attention. Elihu’s theology was pretty accurate, although I wouldn’t call it “perfect knowledge.” Any time we think we have it all figured out, we are standing in dangerous waters. Humility is preferred above theology in God’s economy. That is what separates Elihu from Job. Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). Nowhere has God said that he exalts those with perfect theology. Humility is preferred above theology. I think we often have that backward.