Saturday, December 16, 2017

Job 33:14 says, For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.  Elihu said that God did not answer us just once and hope that we got the answer, but that God was always answering us, which I believe is meant by answers us twice.  The problem is that we often fail to hear God's answer because it isn't what we want to hear.  No is an answer, but often if we want to hear yes, we fail to acknowledge the no.  Verse fifteen says, In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;  Then verse sixteen continues this statement saying, Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,  I believe that Elihu was saying that God speaks to us in many ways, even in our sleep.  In sleep, we should have tuned out the cares of the world and our minds should be at peace.  This does not mean that all dreams are God speaking to us, but we do know that God often spoke to His people in their dreams.  Verse seventeen says, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.  When we are asleep, we shouldn't concerned with what we are going to do next, nor are we filled we self pride.  Sleep should bring peace, and Elihu told Job that God sometimes spoke to His followers at this time.  Verse eighteen says, He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.  Elihu said that God would keep Job, and us also, from the pit. I believe that Elihu was speaking of the pit of hell.  No matter what happens in this life, God keeps the souls of believers safe from the pit of hell.  In verse nineteen Elihu says, He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:  Elihu said that often God chastises those who believe in Him but have strayed from His will.  Elihu did not say that this was what had happened to Job, but even had it been that Job should not question God's fairness.  Verse twenty says, So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.  Then verse twenty-one states, His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.  I believe that Elihu was saying that even if we reach the point of not wanting to eat and have wasted away to skin and bones, we still have no right to question God.  God will ultimately restore us.  Verse twenty-two says, Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.   Even as we approach the grave, or death, we must not question God.  Then, more than ever, we need to remain firm in our faith in God.  Verse twenty-three states,  If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:  Then verse twenty-four states, Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.  I believe that Elihu was speaking of the Messiah that God's people were looking for, and that we know was Jesus Christ.  He showed us how to live upright and likewise delivers us from the pit, which we could see as the grave, but I believe means hell itself.


No comments:

Post a Comment