Listening To God

Elihu (meaning “He is (my) God”) is one of the disputants in the Book of Job; a young man who, having listened in silence to the arguments of Job and his friends, is moved to prolong the discussion and from his more just views of truth set both parties right. He is of the tribe of Buz (compare Gen.22:21), a brother-tribe to that of Uz, and of the family of Ram, or Aram, that is, an Aramean. He is not mentioned as one of the characters of the story until chapter 32; and then, as the friends are silenced and Job's words are ended.  Consider the situation at the end of Job's words (Job 31:40). Job has vindicated his integrity and stands ready to present his cause to God (Job 31:35-37).  It is at this point, then, that Elihu is introduced, essentially at one with the other friends in condemning Job (Job 34:34-37). His only quarrel with them is on the score of the inconclusiveness of their arguments (Job 32:1,3). He adds materially to what the friends have said, but in a more rationalistic vein; speaks edifyingly, as the friends have not done. While grouped with the friends in God's rebuttal to them all, Elihu does make one very truthful statement, "Although God speaks again and again, no one pays attention to what he says." (Job 33:14)  

God has designed us to hear his voice. The predominant way that God speaks is through the Bible. This is why we need to read the it every day, because God’s will is found in God’s Word. In that vein, God also speaks through godly Bible teachers and people that have been brought into your life. In that moment, God is speaking directly to you. Sometimes God will use you to say things to people that He wants to say to them. Not that there is any special inspiration involved, it is just God bringing people together in circumstances and time, to hear or to speak things that one or the other need to hear. And, at times God will even speaks through circumstances and pain. A good biblical example of this is Job and Joseph. Both experienced tremendous loss, suffering, pain, anguish, yet both perceived that through it all - God spoke. 

God speaks all the time and it is we that must learn to listen.  1 Kings 19:11-13, even Elijah the mighty man of God who withstood the false prophets on Mt. Carmel - had to listen to hear God. Often, it is not in the loud bangs, crashes, the brilliant flashes that God will speak.  As with Elijah, it is often in the "still small voice" that God will speak. The question is not how God talks, but, are you listening for God's voice?  What do you need to change about you so that you can be more in tune with God and hear his voice? How might God be using your circumstances to speak to you?  Maybe it is time to start listening.

Jim