[0:00] Take your Bibles, if you would, and turn with me to Job chapter 32. Have you ever overstated your case? Have you ever exaggerated your story?
[0:13] So what we have going on in the book of Job, as you well know, is at the very beginning of the story, God and the devil are having this conversation, Satan, the accuser.
[0:24] And in the conversation, God says, you know, people love me. And it's not because of what I give them. They love me because they love me. And Satan said, oh, no, they don't.
[0:35] And God says, yeah, they do. Look at my servant Job. And Satan said, well, of course he likes you. How wouldn't he like you? You're real good to him. You built a hedge around him. You've always taken care of him.
[0:47] You've been real good to him. And if you were to take away all of his stuff, he wouldn't really like you. He doesn't like you that much. He likes all the toys you give him. God said, that is simply not true.
[0:59] And Satan said, well, you let me have his stuff. And so God said, you go down, you can get him. Just don't touch him. And so he comes down and Satan destroys his children, takes all of his wealth.
[1:11] And he comes back up to God and says, God goes, told you, still likes me, still loves me. You were wrong. And Satan says, well, let me take his health.
[1:24] And he won't like you. And God said, well, take his health. And he goes out and takes his health. And he goes back up and God says, see, so he still likes him. Now we've got a whole story going on. So Job has three friends that show up.
[1:37] And these three friends show up. And they will spend all these chapters all the way up to chapter 32. Basically 30 chapters, 29 chapters. And in those chapters, they keep telling Job, you did wrong.
[1:49] And that's why this happened to you. And Job answers back and says, I did not do wrong. Now nobody on earth really knows what happened because all that other scene happened in heaven.
[2:00] What's going down here on earth is totally separated. So they don't really know about the God and Satan deal. So the friends are saying, you did wrong. And Job said, I didn't do wrong.
[2:12] I did not do wrong. And so they'll say, you did wrong. And this is my argument. And Job goes, nope, didn't do wrong. You're wrong. Next guy comes up and speaks. I told you I didn't do wrong. And it just goes back and forth and back and forth.
[2:24] Somewhere along in the story, another guy shows up that we're just now going to meet. His name is Elihu. We don't know this guy. He is not one of the three friends. He is not mentioned until he gets to this part of the Bible.
[2:36] He hasn't been a part of the story. All we know about him is he's been listening. He's been listening in on the story. And he is going to have some answers for Job.
[2:46] The difference is that the other friends have said, Job, you did wrong and you deserve all the punishment. Elihu is going to say, I don't know that you did wrong.
[2:57] I'm not sure you did wrong. But I don't like the way you're talking about God. I think you've gone overboard. And the way you refer to God, you've said some ugly things about God. And I'm calling your hand on that.
[3:08] Now, we get to God speaking next week, Lord willing. We get there. God will reprimand all three guys, but he won't say one word to Elihu. He won't say Elihu is right. He won't say Elihu is wrong.
[3:19] But there will be plenty of implications that he is. Go with me through these six chapters, if you would. Look in Job chapter 32 and verse 2. First, we meet his family.
[3:30] He's the only guy that's introduced himself. Everybody else seems to know. But the Bible says here, then was kindled the wrath of Elihu, the son of Baruchel, the Buzzite of the kindred of Ram against Job was his wrath kindled because he justified himself rather than God.
[3:48] Now, this is the first guy to tell us who he is. He comes with a pedigree. I'm just going to throw this one at you because I just think sometimes the Bible is fun. In Genesis chapter 22 and verse 20, we find out who Buzz is.
[4:03] He's the brother of Uz. I just find that funnier than all kids. Mom and dad are sitting around and saying, what do you want to name the boys? How about Buzz and Uz? Sorry.
[4:15] I know that doesn't fit good preaching, but I think that's the funniest thing. Genesis 22 of 20, and it came to pass after these sayings that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she also has born children unto your brother Nahor, Uz the firstborn, and Buzz the brother.
[4:33] Sorry, we'll go back to the Bible now. That's Bible. I just think God's got a sense of humor. I wanted to name our first daughter Dorcas.
[4:44] She's a great lady. I wanted to name her Dorcas. I told Betty, I said, what a great Bible name. Betty said, you will not name our daughter Dorcas.
[4:55] I said, Dorcas is a great woman of God. She said, you cannot. They'll call her dork all her life. Dorcas' other name was Tabitha. Tabitha at that time was a witch on TV in the bewitched family.
[5:10] And so I was like, well, I can't call her Tabitha. And that's also a cat, you know. So Tabitha Dorcas, and I lost, and so her name is Stephanie. But anyway. I run my family, though.
[5:21] I just want that clear for everybody. I make all major decisions. Whether or not we're going to war with Iran is on my agenda right now. That's one thing, Betty, let me decide.
[5:32] Look at Job 32, too. The next thing we find out is he's an angry young man. It's really funny to me. You've had these three older guys, and they've all been talking to Job, and they haven't gotten the argument across to him.
[5:46] And so in chapter 32, then was kindled the wrath of Elihu, and he got all of his pedigree there because he would justify himself rather than God. He's angry.
[5:56] His wrath is kindled. In Job 32, 3, against his three friends was his wrath kindled. So he's mad at Job, and he's mad at the three friends.
[6:07] And in chapter 32, verse 4, it was Elihu had waited till Job had spoken because they were elder. And Elihu saw that they had no answer in the mouth, and he was mad again. I mean, the Bible just goes like, he's mad.
[6:20] He's mad at Job, mad at three friends. He's just mad. And he's mad at Job's friends because they have condemned Job, but they haven't been able to win the argument.
[6:30] Look at Job 32, 3. Against his three friends was his wrath kindled because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. They had had running arguments, and he's just been sitting there listening, and he's like, I'm really upset with you people.
[6:45] You old guys are supposed to know something, and Job has been able to handle you very well. And I'm a young guy, and I know what I'm talking about. In fact, I didn't even give you all the verses. If you'll read these verses, he comes in and says, I got the answers.
[6:58] I got the answers. I got the answers. I know. Sometimes I was that young man, and sometimes now I deal with that young man. Elihu comes with a different spirit towards Job.
[7:10] Elihu has seemed to really listen. He's not near as harsh when he censors Job. He's more sensitive to the fact that Job is suffering. He's not accusing Job of sinning like the friends have.
[7:23] He has waited to see. He's wanted Job to see what his view of God is. It's like Job somehow shifted from defending himself to almost accusing God.
[7:35] And I'll show you what Elihu had to say about that. He's really going to say, Job, okay, I know you're hurting, but you don't need to be mad at God. I know you're hurting, Job, but you don't need to be mad at God.
[7:48] Maybe God has another purpose, but you don't need to be mad at God. Look at Job 36.1. Elihu proceeded and said, suffer me a little.
[7:59] Now, suffer is an old word for allow me. So if you'll circle the word suffer and write allow there, allow me a little and I will show you. Give me just a chance and I'll show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
[8:11] I am here to defend God. I am here to answer and give God the benefit. The older men have failed to give an answer. Chapter 32, verse 9. Great men are not always wise.
[8:24] Neither do the aged understand judgment. This kid goes, just because they're rich and just because they are older doesn't mean they know anything. Therefore, I said, hearken to me.
[8:35] I'll show you my opinion. Chapter 32 and verse 10. Elihu really believes that he has the answer. He says, when I'd waited, for they spake not, but stood still and answered no more.
[8:50] I said, I will answer also my part. I will show my opinion. I am full of the matter. And the spirit within me constrains me.
[9:01] Now, here's the interesting thing about Elihu before we look at what he's going to say. He's the only one God doesn't correct. So here's how the story's gone. It's almost been like Job's friends start correcting him.
[9:14] And the argument gets tighter and hotter and tighter and hotter. And it's kind of like the ones that you have in your house. You know, they start off with kind of a little banter. And you're kind of going back and forth. But it's getting hotter and more intense.
[9:25] And they're angry now. And Job ends up saying, I have not done wrong. I made a covenant with my eyes. And he did a lot of really good stuff.
[9:37] Well, then all three guys stopped talking. It's almost like they're like, cross the line now. He's like, he is too right.
[9:50] You going to kill him or what? And they're almost waiting. And Elihu said, I don't think anybody's going to do anything. And he sits there a few minutes. He says, all right, here comes my opinion.
[10:02] Here's what I want you to consider with me today. You can cross the line even when you defend your integrity. Job defends his righteousness, his integrity, sometimes in the passage at the expense of God's righteousness.
[10:17] Look with me now and we'll go through the Bible. Job 32.1. He was righteous in his own eyes. That's what the scripture said. In verse 2, he justified himself rather than God.
[10:32] Basically, Job said, if there's somebody wrong in this relationship, God or me, well, I'm right. I'm not saying God's wrong, but I know I'm right. I don't know what's going on here, but I'm the one who's right in this.
[10:46] And all through the book, he's been saying, I want God to sit down at a table with me. I want to look at him eyeball to eyeball, and I want to figure this out. I want to find out what's going on here. He needs to understand my point of view.
[10:58] Job was angry with God because he felt God was unjust and that God had made harsh, and that Job made harsh statements, maybe accusations.
[11:08] You ever done that when you were hurting, blame God, get angry at God, fuss at God, say things later you wish you hadn't have said? Look if you would at Job 16.9.
[11:22] Job said, he tears me in his wrath. God's so mad at me, he's hurting me. He hates me.
[11:33] He gnashes upon me with his teeth. My enemy sharpens his eyes upon me. Truth is, God's not mad.
[11:44] He's proud. God's happy with Job. He's not the least bit angry. He's just trying to prove a point. But Job's like, he hates me. Job chapter 16 and verse 13, he said, His archers can pass me round about.
[12:01] He cleaves my heart in two. He cleaves my reins. That's really the root word is kidneys. It's the inside of his being. It's like he's torn my heart out of me, and he does not spare.
[12:13] He pours out my gall on the ground. He takes my, he just basically guts me and leaves me. Job chapter 30 and verse 18, Listen to what he said.
[12:43] You are become cruel to me. You are become cruel to me. Do you understand? There's a conflict going on.
[12:58] Job really hasn't done anything wrong. Job didn't do anything to bring this punishment on himself. Job was a man of integrity. He has been one the whole time. And before the book is over, God is going to tell all three friends, Job's right.
[13:11] You better ask him for forgiveness for running you big mouths against him. But he won't say anything to Elihu. And Elihu's like, Job, I know you're defending somebody, but you're kind of being mad at God here.
[13:23] And I don't know what God's doing. And I'm not sure what he's doing, Elihu. Elihu says, I'm not sure what he's doing. But I really don't think you need to be mad at him. I don't think you need to be striking out at him.
[13:33] I don't think you need to be saying ugly things about him. I mean, Job, you've been saying some things. I think it just crossed the line. Look at verse 21. In Job chapter 30, verse 21, Thou art become cruel to me.
[13:46] With thy strong hand, thou opposest thyself against me. Thou liftest me up in the wind and causes me to ride upon it. You've dissolved my substance. You took away all my stuff.
[13:57] In verse 23, you're going to kill me before this is over. You're leading me to death. Now, you can understand Job if you're honest. I've been there, hadn't you? We were in Arequipa.
[14:11] I'm doing everything I know to try to serve God. And a friend of mine notices that in the bathroom, there's ants everywhere. Our son, Chris, goes to the bathroom.
[14:23] He's an older fellow, so he comes in and tells me one day, he says, I think somebody in your family's got the sugar. That's the old way of saying diabetes. He says, and I was like, that's not true.
[14:36] That's not true. Then the neighbor said, why is it that your son is so skinny? It's like y'all don't feed him anymore. And I said, ah, he eats plenty. And then he told us at school he couldn't see the board.
[14:50] And so I took him to the doctor. And the doctor said, well, he needs glasses. And they didn't notice he had diabetes. Finally, we found out he had diabetes. He was going to have to take shots every day, four shots every day. And it was just such a hard thing.
[15:01] And I can remember sitting there. I can remember exactly where I was on Avenue de Hesito, on Army Avenue. And I'm sitting there. And I said, what are you doing, God? What are you doing, God?
[15:14] We left America. We live in this forsaken, God-forsaken pit. And you let my kid get sick. Later, our daughter got raped. And I was quite upset.
[15:26] You understand, Job's hurting. And when you're hurting, you tend to strike out. And you strike out sometimes at God. Job tried to hold God accountable for what was happening.
[15:39] He was like, God, you need to sit down at a table. We've got to fix accounts here. You don't want us wrong here. Job chapter 34 and verse 37, he adds rebellion to his sin. He multiplies his words against God.
[15:53] That's what Elihu noticed. He multiplied his words against God. Chapter 35 and verse 1, Elihu spoke more and said, Thinkest thou this to be right that thou sayest my righteousness is more than God's?
[16:05] Job, could you be overstating the case? Could you be seeing things from your point of view? Job, could you be saying things that aren't quite right? You know, we don't live righteous lives to get something from God.
[16:18] Our good living doesn't force God to do things for us or manipulate him to protect us. Was Job more worried about his reputation or God's reputation? Here's a big error we make a lot of times.
[16:30] We're like, if I tithe and go to church and give to missions and live a holy life and do all the things I'm supposed to do, God's supposed to take care of me. It's not true. We're like, if we're good people, everything good will happen to us.
[16:44] Book of Job says, not necessarily. You can be our great guy, Job, and have everything go wrong in your life possible. In just a little while, Job and God are going to be talking, and Job's going to be going, Sorry, you're right.
[16:58] Sorry, you're right. Sorry, you're right. Sorry, you're right. We're not that far yet. But Elihu says, you're indirectly accusing God.
[17:09] In Job 34.9, Elihu says, he said, it profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. Elihu said, Job, you're acting like there's no value in serving Jesus.
[17:22] You ever done that? You ever been mad and things are going wrong and you're like, all that giving, all that praying, all that church attendance, all I've done for God and he lets this happen to me? You ever been there?
[17:34] That's kind of what Job's thinking. If God is who he claims he is and loves me like he claims, he'd never let bad things happen to me. That's kind of what he's thinking maybe.
[17:47] That's kind of what I'm thinking maybe. That's kind of what you're thinking maybe. Sometimes we justify ourselves instead of seeking God's truth.
[17:58] Proverbs 21.2, every way of a man is right in his own eyes. But the Lord ponders the hearts. Proverbs 20.6, most men will proclaim his own goodness.
[18:11] But a faithful man who can find. Job never attributed bad to God. He didn't. But he sure painted a picture that he was suffering at God's expense.
[18:23] He kind of indirectly blamed God. Chapter 34, verse 5. For Job has said, I am righteous and God's taken away my judgment.
[18:33] I thought as I read this about me, as I prayed about this and thought about this, I thought about me. How I am so quick to be like, what are you doing?
[18:46] Why do you let this happen? Do you know who I am? You ever done that? Come on, be honest. I'm sure I'm the only one in this room that's that wicked. But I am that wicked. And sometimes I like to really try to show you that I'm the right one here.
[19:00] I like to defend my righteousness. And Job's righteous and he really is righteous. But can you cross a line and maybe say things you ought not say and have attitudes you ought to have?
[19:12] Do you reckon Job did that? I know that can happen in my marriage. I know that Betty and I can be fighting and fussing, which I know you don't think that ever happens at the preacher's house.
[19:23] But we can have this little discussion. And she'll say something. And I'm like, whoa, whoa. I defend my righteousness. I never say those words, you know. I ain't that spiritual. But I'm not wrong about that.
[19:35] And so she says something else. I defend it and I just over exaggerate my goodness. If there's a bad one in this room, bless God, it ain't me. That's basically where Job's been, isn't it?
[19:50] Job's like, I don't know what's going on here. Why don't God come sit down at a table with me? Let's just lay all the cards on the table and everybody will know I'm the one that's right here. That's what's been going on the whole book.
[20:02] Do you ever justify yourselves? You know, we tend to do it by saying things like this. But what about, I was right. What about, it's not my fault because it was wrong.
[20:15] But it's legal, you know. It is my right. They left me no choice. I deserve it.
[20:27] Because. So here's what Elihu ends up saying to him. He gives these four speeches. Speech number one is, I'm smart and I got answers.
[20:39] He had to justify himself. We've kind of covered that one. Then he's going to give three more. The next speech says, actually, God is gracious. Basically, Elihu wants to say to Job, Job, calm down here.
[20:52] God's good. Look with me, if you would, at Job 33, 24. Underline this in your Bible. Then he is gracious unto him. And said, deliver him from going down to the pit.
[21:05] I have found a ransom. I just want you to underline this. He is gracious unto him. God's good. And in the worst of times, and things are going wrong, our God is a God of grace.
[21:20] Our God is a good God. And Job, I know you've been going through some really bad stuff. But I need you to know something. God is still good.
[21:32] You may have been in one of those churches where the guy comes out and says, God's good. And the people say, all the time. And then the pastor says, all the time. And the people repeat, God is good. That's true.
[21:44] God is always good. And Job needed to be reminded of that. It might be that God was bringing. Elihu doesn't know why Job's suffering. And he's wrong about his assumptions.
[21:55] He makes biblically true statements. He doesn't realize that what's going on up in heaven right now is an argument between God and Satan. But he does tell Job, oh, Job, it might not be that you did wrong.
[22:07] But maybe God's trying to keep you from messing up in some other way. In Job 33, 17, he says, it might be that he withdraw a man from his purpose. And he keeps back his soul from the pit.
[22:18] And he keeps him from perishing. In other words, it might just be that when bad things are happening in your life, Elihu says, maybe God's just trying to keep you from messing up.
[22:29] God knows that if you keep going down that road, you'll mess up. And so God brings punishment. That's not what's happening. But Elihu's trying to say, you know, God's good, Job. And if something bad's happening, it could be that this is it.
[22:41] By the way, in the New Testament, we find that a lot of times God does allow junk to happen in your life to keep you right. Look, if you would, at 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 31.
[22:52] For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, when God judges us, we are chastened of the Lord, verse 32. That we would not be condemned with the world.
[23:06] Did you know that God disciplines his children because he doesn't send us to hell? And a lot of times when you may think your way is being hemmed up. Years ago in Cartersville, Georgia, in the church I was pastoring, I had a flat pulpit.
[23:21] It was really not a pulpit. It was kind of a box. Didn't have enough money to make a fancy pulpit. And there was some ants on there and there was a piece of bread there. And I'm just playing with the ants on my own thing. And these ants don't, they can't find the bread.
[23:32] It's like right there. And I'm looking down, I'm like, the bread's right there, you dingbats. And so when ants walked that way, I put my hand there and I kept, and I guided them. And one day, those ants, finally those ants get over and I'm sure they all went, look at this.
[23:42] I found some bread. They didn't find the bread. I kind of guided them to the bread. Amen. And sometimes maybe God's working in your life and there's been stuff happening. And you're like, I don't know what this is, but it's kind of driving me to my knees.
[23:54] It's kind of making me search for God. And maybe God's dealing with your heart to bring you to do right with him. It might be that we defend our integrity and we overstate our case. Job 33, 8 says, surely thou has spoken in my hearing and I've heard the words of thou saying, I am clean without transgression.
[24:13] I am innocent. Neither is iniquity. But he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. He puts my feet in stocks. He marks all my paths. Behold, thou art not just.
[24:27] I will answer that God is greater than man. So God's good. God's good. And though Job hadn't sinned in the ways his friends were accusing him, his attitude has gotten a tad testy.
[24:42] If you read the story, he's gotten a tad on the testy side. But here's Elihu's message. Job, God's good. Job, I don't know what's going on.
[24:52] I don't know why you're going through this much. I don't know what the real answer is. I got some ideas and they might not be right. But this much I know. God is gracious. The second thing Job said to me in his next speech is, God is just.
[25:07] Look, if you would, at Job 34.10. Job 34.10. Therefore, hearken unto me, ye men of understanding. Far be it from God that he should do wickedness. You can understand this.
[25:18] God doesn't do wrong. Can I get an amen there? God doesn't rape your kids. God doesn't burn down houses. God doesn't cause wars. God doesn't do wickedness.
[25:28] And from the Almighty that he should commit iniquity. God doesn't do wrong. Amen. Verse 11. The work of a man shall he render unto him and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[25:40] Yea, God, surely God will not do wickedly. Neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. God is just. God is right.
[25:51] I don't care what's going on in your life. You can mark this one down. The God of heaven does right. Always. He always does right. God's in charge. And you didn't put him in charge.
[26:03] In Job 34.13, Elihu says, who hath given him charge? Who put God in charge? Who gave him the whole world to run? None of you did. We didn't.
[26:14] He got it because he's a creator God. In the book of Acts in chapter 17 and verse 24. Remember who God is. God that made the world and all the things that are in the world.
[26:27] Seeing that he is the Lord of heaven and earth. And he dwells not in temples made with hands. And he can't be worshipped with man's hands. And he needs not. He doesn't need anything. You know, God doesn't stand up in heaven and say, I need y'all.
[26:40] God doesn't need us. We need God. God. He's the one who gives life and breath and all things. Verse 26. He's the one that has determined how long we'll live and what will happen.
[26:53] Verse 27. They that fill after him and find him. He's not far from any of us. Verse 28. In him we live and move and have our being. We are his offspring.
[27:05] He is the almighty God. Nothing ever happens that shocks our God. God. You're not going to wake up. Ben. Mize said it a second ago.
[27:19] He said them people in Egypt. Did you pay attention? He said in Egypt they didn't know. He said they went by Home Depot, you know. I thought that's pretty good preaching. He said they went by Home Depot on the way. Who goes up by Home Depot on the way out of town is what he said.
[27:31] He said, but God knew what they needed. That's what he said. I was sitting there thinking, back off, son. Don't preach my message yet. But God knew what they needed beforehand.
[27:44] God's in charge. God's at work in your life and you need to glorify him for that. Amen. And on the worst day of your life when everything is falling apart, you say, I know you're good and I know you're right.
[27:55] When my whole life's falling apart, I know two things. Then Elihu's made clear to me, you are good and you are right and you never do wrong. He is the almighty God.
[28:06] By the way, without him we cannot live. Lamentations 3.22 is one of my favorites in the Bible. I'm sure yours too. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed because his compassions, they fail not.
[28:22] They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness. From the very beginning of the scriptures all the way through the scriptures, there's a question being asked and it's answered by Mr. Elihu.
[28:33] But in Genesis 18.29, he said, shall the judge of all the earth do right? And the answer is, oh yes, he will. Oh yes, he will. He is good and he is right.
[28:46] He is good and he is right. Go with me to Job 36.26 if you would. When I was a kid, we used to pray, God is good, God is great.
[28:57] And I don't remember the rest of it. Now I lay me down to sleep or I get to eat my food, I can't remember. But sure, it's a true statement. Somebody taught me when I was a kid, God is good and God is great.
[29:09] Job 36.26, behold, God is great. And we know him not. You know, if God were so that you could understand him.
[29:24] Elihu is basically saying that, Job, you're kind of angry with God right now, buddy. And you need to calm down. I'm an angry young man myself. I'm a smart mouth. That's typically what you are. We know you're the young. I've been that guy all my life, so I can't criticize anybody for that.
[29:37] And he's like, these old men didn't have an answer. They might be rich and they might be old. But that don't mean anything. They obviously don't know stuff, but I do. And I'll just say this to you, Job. I'll just say this to you.
[29:49] I don't know what's going on, but I know this. God is good. God is great. And God is right. And he doesn't know what's going on. He has no idea that up in heaven, God's not mad at Job.
[30:01] God's not trying to hurt Job. And we don't understand what's going on. Because God is great. Because God is great. God is great. As you get older and you look back on your life, you'll figure out some things you'll say.
[30:15] I never understood that till. I was a little boy. I went to first grade without shoes. That was embarrassing. I'll never forget it.
[30:25] I still remember. I don't know why I went without shoes. I mean, you know, my parents aren't like that. Why did I do that? I don't know. I lived with an outhouse. I hated that.
[30:37] My brother told me one time after we was grown, I always said we was poor. And my brother said, we weren't poor, Daddy. Just would rather buy a tractor of cows. And he was mad at Daddy.
[30:47] I wasn't mad at Daddy. I was just like, we was poor. And my brother was like, we weren't poor. And I would get to Peru. And all of a sudden, I understand those people.
[31:02] When they were poor, I was like, I know what you feel like. And when they had to, they didn't have all the facilities and all that. And I would stay with them.
[31:13] And I was in, I remember preaching for one guy in Chiclayo. And when I got there, he put two pews together and gave me a foam rubber mat. And he said, you can, it was wooden pews. He said, these pews, you know, you won't fall off because they're on both sides.
[31:25] And you can sleep on this mat. And I said, okay. And I said, now, where am I going to shower? And he said, over there in the corner of the lot, there's a piece of tin hanging down. There's a hose pipe.
[31:35] Cold water comes out. And you can bathe there. And I did it. And I could. And I would think to myself, I think Mom and Daddy raised me in a way I could handle this. I talked to other mysteries.
[31:46] And they'd say, I could never do what you do. And I'd say, ah, my daddy would say it wasn't nothing. See, sometimes you don't understand what God's doing in your life. He's brought you through some junk, hadn't he? And you're kind of angry with him about it.
[31:57] Come on, be honest. I was. I was like, why do I have to live like this? And the God of heaven's like a sign making a ministry for you. It wouldn't work for you too good. Unless I put you through this. I'm getting you ready.
[32:08] You don't know. That's what Ben said to you this morning. Job 36, 5. God is mighty. Did you underline that?
[32:19] Behold, God is mighty. And he despises. You know, there's not anybody he doesn't love. Not anybody that he looks down on. He is mighty in strength and wisdom.
[32:31] The major question is how we will respond to what God is doing or allowing to be done in our lives. Elihu doesn't really have the answers. He's the only one that doesn't get corrected.
[32:44] The fact is, the liberal Bible scholars state that maybe Elihu doesn't belong in the Bible. I don't believe that because I just accept the Bible as the word of God. Say amen. I'm not into any kind of critical junk of any of it. I don't figure the Bible can criticize me.
[32:55] I ain't got time to criticize it. If I ever get right enough, I'll criticize it. But I think that's going to take about 300 years. But they say, well, you know, the friends never mentioned Elihu. Job never mentioned Elihu.
[33:05] God never mentioned Elihu. Maybe somebody just tacked that in there. Of course, I don't believe that. But Elihu had some answers. Job, you had an attitude, hadn't you, buddy? What do you all do when stuff goes wrong in your life?
[33:18] Do you seek sin or God? Will you continue to serve God or will you walk away? Some people, when things fall apart, they walk away. Oh, Job doesn't do that. This book's going to end great. Could Job get so discouraged that he will kill himself?
[33:35] Would you acknowledge the creator and judge of the universe and admit your need to humble yourself before him? What's your attitude towards our God? I don't like him. You might be thinking that.
[33:47] But you've got to humble yourself. You've got to recognize him for who he is. Amen? Amen. Could it be that though you may not have sinned, you have developed some bad attitudes? Could it be that you use self-justification to find fault and blame in others and you're not honest about yourself?
[34:05] I think that's me. Boy, the Lord dealt with me. Have you tried to make a God of your liking instead of obeying the God of the Bible? Well, sometimes we read these stories like Job.
[34:16] We're like, I don't like that guy to God. You don't get a choice to do that. Say amen. We don't go to God and tell him how to be. He comes to us and tells us how to be. Say amen. Are you blaming God or others?
[34:29] It's time to humble ourselves before our almighty God. He is good. He is great. And he is right. That's what I believe you said. He is good. He is great.
[34:41] And he is right. What about my mom? What about my brother? What about my money? What about my job? What about all the junk? He is good. He is great. He is right. What about all the junk in my life?
[34:51] He is good. He is great. He is right. But I thank God he is good. He is great. He is right. That's where our God is.