I reply to you, Behold, in this you are not just; God is superior to man. Why do you contend against Him? For He does not give account of any of His actions. [Sufficient for us it should be to know that it is He Who does them.] For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job]. [One may hear God's voice] in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed, Then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction [terrifying them with warnings], That He may withdraw man from his purpose and cut off pride from him [disgusting him with his own disappointing self-sufficiency]. He holds him back from the pit [of destruction], and his life from perishing by the sword [of God's destructive judgments]. [God's voice may be heard by man when] he is chastened with pain upon his bed and with continual strife in his bones or while all his bones are firmly set,' [God's voice may be heard] if there is for the hearer a messenger or an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him [how to be upright and in right standing with God], ' [Elihu comments] Behold, God does all these things twice, yes, three times, with a man, To bring back his life from the pit [of destruction], that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. Job 33:12-19,23,29-30 AMPC
This passage in the book of Job is important because it is the 1st time that we hear from Elihu, who allegedly had been amongst Job and his friends the entire time they were speaking in the previous chapters. In the past it was common and a sign of respect for young people to be silent in the presence of elders which Elihu did when he sat silently as Job’s three older friends were offering answers on his current predicament. For 30 chapters Job and his friends exchanged intellectual opinions on the justice of God, and the reason for his troubles. After Job’s friends ran out of “answers” for him, Elihu saw his opportunity to share what the Lord had laid on his heart. After questioning Job’s “self-righteousness,” Elihu comes with a mic drop moment:
For God [does reveal His will; He] speaks not only once, but more than once, even though men do not regard it [including you, Job]. v.14
Do you understand what you just read? Re-read it! God gives (wo)man insight or warns us of what’s ahead, it’s just that many of us don’t understand or recognize it when he provides it. If you think back to the forefathers:
- Noah: God instructs him to build an ark AND gives him the dimensions (Genesis 6)
- Abraham: God tells him that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 12)
- Israel/Jacob: God promised that he would see his father again, and that his descendants would be countless (Genesis 28)
- Joseph: God showed him that his family would bow to him, and told him later in life that he would bring his descendants out of Egypt (Genesis 37&50)
- Caleb: God allowed him, Joshua, and 10 others to see the promised land before they were to battle for it (Numbers 13)
- Daniel: God gave him visions of the downfall of Babylonian leaders, and the kingdoms that would rule the known world after them (Daniel chaps 4-12)
- The disciples: Jesus warns the disciples of persecution, yet they don’t understand the message (Matthew 10)
These are only a few examples of God providing insight into what he had planned for his people before actually taking them through it. I heard Dr. Dharius Daniels say in a message that “God either gives you a destination without directions, or directions without a destination.” God is JUST, and he never lays more on us than we can bare (1 Corinthians 10:13). He provides a way of escape for us in times of trouble, and even more importantly he will enter the troublesome times with us instead of leaving us to suffer alone (The fiery furnace (Daniel 3), or when he calms the storm (Matthew 14)). My advice is to be still, listen closely, and humble yourself before God so that you will be ready when he speaks.
Reflection Time
I would like each of you to take a real look and reflect at what you’ve been through in life, and think about the events that led up to it. Did you miss or not recognize when God spoke to you? How can you put yourself in a better position to hear from God? What caused you to not hear God’s voice in the past or currently? Do you actually believe that God speaks to us, or more importantly you?
