Year 5, Day 127: Job 33

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: In:

• In: This is the word we use to express our relationships with our spiritual family.  These are often the people who hold us spiritually accountable.  They are the ones to whom we typically go for discussion and discernment.  These are the ones with whom we learn to share leadership.  They are the ones with whom we become family on mission.

Certainly Elihu isn’t perfect, and we’ll start to see some of his imperfections shortly.  But for right now, I think Elihu should get high marks for his approach.  Elihu appears to be really adept at building In.

Look at how he approaches Job.  First of all, Elihu doesn’t come to criticize Job.  He doesn’t come with his mind already made up.  He’s already listened to all the conversation that has happened thus far.  When he speaks to Job, he says, “I am toward God as you are.”  Elihu is looking to create common ground between him and Job.  He doesn’t want to walk in opposition; he wants to walk beside Job.

Furthermore, Elihu says to Job that he too was pinched of prom a piece of clay.  In other words, Elihu is saying that he understands that he is just a man.  He understands that he isn’t perfect and doesn’t have perfect insight.  Yes, he is confident that he has wisdom, but he is opening the conversation with Job by reminding Job that Elihu knows he’s human and finite.

Then he tells Job that he doesn’t need to fear him.  Job will not feel a tremendous weight from Elihu’s speech.  Job can be at ease, even if Elihu tries to speak truth into his life.

You see, what Elihu is trying to do is create some In with Job.  Elihu doesn’t want to dominate over Job, he wants to walk with Job.  Elihu doesn’t want to place himself as better than Job but as Job’s equal.  Elihu doesn’t just want to spout words of advice, he wants to listen first and then speak.

Elihu is showing grant competency at being In.  Elihu wants to walk through life with Job rather than stand in judgment over Job’s life.  This is all any of us can ask from our In.

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