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Job 33:12-13
12 Behold, in this thou art not just [tsadaq]: I will answer [`anah] thee, that God ['elowahh] is greater [rabah] than man ['enowsh].
13 Why dost thou strive [riyb] against him? for he giveth not account [`anah] of any of his matters [dabar]. KJV-Interlinear
12 'Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than man. 13 'Why do you complain against Him, That He does not give an account of all His doings? NASB
Elihu has taken a few of Jobs words out of context, ignoring many of Jobs other words, and has drawn a conclusion based on his own hearing. That conclusion being that Job has questioned Gods motives and methods.
And that could not be further from the truth.
Anyone who has been born from 'Adam,' is a sinner and therefore beneath Gods level. Being imperfect, we all fail from time to time. Some of us more often than others.
But the pattern of our life is not and should not be determined from a few isolated words and attitudes we might display during our life. Everyone fails, but everyone does not wallow in their failure. Some get back up and move on in their life.
And though these words of Elihu, with regard to God, are true, his application to Job is in error.
God is infinitely greater than man. God has a perfect character, a perfect essence. What He does in our individual lives should never be questioned, and of course, no one should presume that God does things against us just because He has nothing better to do.
Nothing in our life occurs by accident. Likewise, none of us should simply set back and do nothing for ourselves, thinking that God will do everything for us. That is irresponsible, obviously. God always provides us with resources and a way out of our predicament.
You can get an education, get a job, start a business, you can do almost anything in order to find solutions for your problems. What God does, is work within the mechanisms of this world to aid your efforts.
Need a doctor? God has provided lots of doctors for our generation. Need a loan? God has provided lots of lenders for our generation. Need a job? God has provided lots of employment opportunities out there in the world. Need an education? There are schools everywhere.
No one can complain that God has not provided help. Help is everywhere. You just have to become responsible.
But that is the physical world we live in. You still have to monitor your spiritual life too. Confess and remain in fellowship. Study and learn doctrine. Use the doctrine and grow up spiritually. In this, God provides you with that extra assistance, that the common person does not receive in life.
There is common grace, which applies to every living human being. There is Christian grace, which applies to believers only. And there is greater grace, which applies to those who are active within their spiritual lives. The third category is the best of the three.
On a world basis, none of us can know what events will occur next month or in six months or next year. We face yet another national election next fall and we can all shudder at the prospects if an incompetent President is elected.
And as for ourselves, none of us can know what God has planned for us in the future. Our tomorrows may not be much different from our today's. None of us has a clear crystal ball to see the future in detail.
But we can know that is we continue advancing in our spiritual lives, then no matter what happens in this world, Jesus Christ controls history and that is all we need be concerned with. That is where faith combined with responsibility enters into our individual lives.
Complaints are out. Those are for the immature only. Patience, persistence and consistency in ones spiritual life is what is important. God will take care of everything else.
