Elihu is Upset With Job’s Friends

Job 32:1–22
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Elihu was polite in his waiting, and kind in his speaking, but he was an angry young man (vv. 1-5). He was angry with the three friends for failing to convince Job of his sins, and for Job justifying himself rather than God. He agreed with the friends that Job was a sinner, but he disagreed with their arguments. As the youngest man in the group, Elihu knew his place, but he still displayed some pride. He felt that the discussion needed his opinion (vv. 6, 10 & 17) because everybody else was wrong. He was bursting with words (vv. 18-20) and could not hold them in.

Elihu gave a speech that was six chapters in length, in which he explained the character of God and applied this to Job’s situation. He said some of the same things as the other speakers, but his purpose was different from theirs. He was not trying to prove that Job was a sinner, but that Job’s view of God was wrong. In doing so, he introduced the thought that God sends suffering, not necessarily to punish us for our sins, but to keep us from sinning (Job. 33:18-24). Warren Wiersbe in his book Be Patient lists four reasons why Elihu feels it is important for him to speak and for them to listen.

1. He was indignant (vv. 1-3, 5). - Four times in these verses we are told that Elihu was angry.
2. He was inspired (vv. 8-10). - He claimed to have the insight of the Spirit of God.
3. He was impartial (vv. 14, 21-22). He may have been impartial, but he wasn’t neutral.
4. He was impelled (vv. 16-20). He felt that he had a mandate from God to tell what he knew.

Application

Jobs friends had no answer so Eliu breaks into the conversation. He speaks because he is angry. He is angry because Job is spending his time justifying himself rather than God. He is also angry because Job’s friends have spent their time condemning Job but not giving him any real answers. I must be careful to exercise self-control when my speech is motivated by self-righteous anger.