“Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’ ” 35:2

Elihu brings up a very interesting point to poor ol’ Job. Does God owe Job something? 

We’ve read as Job has gone on and on and on about how he’s done no wrong, and what a great, selfless life he’s lived. This is normal. Suffering prompts self-reflection and often a why me reaction. And also, Job HAS lived a great, selfless life. Elihu reminds him (and me), that good behavior doesn’t protect us from suffering. We cannot earn an easy life.

Elihu doesn’t have all the answers for Job, and it’s REALLY easy for him to announce a point of view, when he isn’t the one siting all alone, in the wake of his former life. We want answers though! I’m 36 chapters into this book and still looking for clear cut answers about human suffering.

Pretty soon we are going to hear from God about all of this. In the meanwhile, do you agree with Elihu? Is Job prideful to think he doesn’t deserve any of this punishment? What do we deserve from God? 

-Carly