Many of us have read about Job, and all the trials he went through at the enemy's hand. We have read about his friends, that came to comfort him, but instead just made life more agitating for him. We have read how Job's wife wanted him to curse God and we have read that even Job himself cursed the day he was born.

Job was going through a lot, his family had been destroyed, his goods were devoured and now he was in dust and ashes with boils over his entire body. He could not understand what was going on. He declared that he had done everything right, he had fed the homeless, he helped the widows, he repented for his children's sins, and he blessed God daily in his life. What Job didn't know was that this attack on his life was a direct threat of the enemy to God, satan declared that if God took away all that Job had, truly Job would turn from God. God in His wisdom knew Job's heart, he knew he would withstand this attack of the enemy and he told satan he could do whatever he liked but he could not take Job's life. There was a line drawn for Job but Job didn't know it. All he knew was the suffering and pain he was going through and could not understand why this was happening to him.

Meanwhile he had some friends who were more than willing to come along and tell Job their opinions about why this was happening to him. Surely Job must have sinned, surely Job had made mistakes, and surely he was not fit to have all that God had granted him. They remind you of the saying, "with friends like these who needs enemies." Job was at the end of his rope, he cried out and still no answer from God. Enter, another friend, his name, Elihu.

Elihu was the youngest of the friends who were gathered around Job at the time. Because of his youth he did not say anything until all the others had given their opinions. Then the time came for him to open his mouth and what he said bought more wisdom into the situation and somehow caused Job to cry out to God and God answered him, and when it was all over all was restored to Job, even more than he had before. So what was it that this friend could say that would make a difference? What was it that the other three friends missed and had to repent and have Job pray for them by God's command? What were the words that finally got through to Job, that caused Him to call out to God and wait for Him to answer?

Space will not permit me to type all that Elihu said, but there are some very key verses and I hope that as you read if you are going through a trial that you will hear what this man said and examine your heart and be sure that we do not make the same mistake Job made. Here are some highlights of the words Elihu spoke.

Job Chapter 32: 18-19
"For I am full of words; the spirit within me compels me, indeed my belly is like wine that has no vent; it is ready to burst like new wineskins." (Elihu was waiting in the background as the others spoke but inside of him were words that burned within him and were ready to break forthright out of him.)

Chapter 33: 1-18
Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you. For God is greater than man, why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words, For God may speak in one way or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. In order to turn man from his deed and conceal pride from man, He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword." (Elihu knew that God would continue to try to reach a man whether in dreams or visions, that He would do everything to get man to turn to Him, he also knew that God does not owe anyone an account of His actions and that in these trials we cannot claim our own righteousness, for it doesn't even begin to stand up before God.)

Chapter 34:10-15
"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding, far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For He repays men according to his work and makes man to find a reward according to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth? Or who appointed Him over the whole world. If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together and man would return to dust." (With all that goes on in this world, the one thing we hear most often, is "why did God do this," this verse right here tells us, God will never do wickedness, nor will He pervert justice. Our God is a good God, all power is in His hands and if He chose it could all be over in a second. He deserves our respect, our honor and our reverence along with our trust that if wickedness is in our lives it is not coming from the hand of God.)

Chapter 35:1-8 "Moreover Elihu answered and said; Do you think this is right? Do you say my righteousness is more than God's? For you say, what advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned"? I will answer you, and your companions with you. Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds-they are higher than you. If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him, or if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? Your wickedness affects a man such as you, and your righteousness a son of man." (This verse really blessed me and when you take the time to meditate on it you will see that Elihu is saying, what can we possibly do to God, even if we sin, it will not affect him, BUT, it will affect others and ourselves.)

One more part of this I will type, but I hope you will read it for yourself. Elihu's understanding of who God is is so profound, yet so simple, May we all honor Our God in every thought, deed and action and may we be slow to lose sight of who Our God truly is. This verse comes from Chapter 36, verses 5-7; "Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one. He is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the oppressed. He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous, but they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever and they are exalted."

My prayer this day for myself and for you is that we would not be one of the three friends, but that we would follow this fourth friend in our conversations with others when they are going through the trial of their life. I know I have failed at this many times and I repent and pray for the Lord of wisdom and strength to help us all to grow to speak His word, speak His goodness, speak His love to all those in need.

Do not give up, no matter what you are going through. God has the answers in his heart, He will bring you through and in the meantime I pray he brings an Elihu into your life.