Old Testament: Job 32.1–3

To read the Bible in a year, read Job 31–32 on July 5, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

Finally, the debate between Job and his three friends ended. However, they had not been alone, but at least one other person was present, and no doubt others too. The fifth man was Elihu and he was not happy with Job or his friends. The writer of the Book of Job, stated: 

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

– Job 32.1–3 

As you read the Book of Job, you can lose your focus and not remember what each man has said. How then would you summarize the problem that Job’s friends saw in him? The writer shows us: Job justified himself rather than God. 

Job did maintain his innocence and righteousness, and did question what God was doing, as though God had wronged him. 

Yet, the friends condemnation of Job was insufficient. You cannot condemn someone without specifying what his error is. 

Questions: 

• Of what family was Elihu? 
• Why did Elihu wait to speak? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com