Listening Points
Elihu enters the conversation and speaks to Job. Watch for how Elihu defends God’s justice and sovereignty. How does Elihu challenge Job’s complaints? Does Elihu agree with Job’s friends? Notice how Elihu speaks about suffering and God’s reasons for it.
Narration/Handwriting (for kindergarten-2nd):
Elihu is upset with both Job and his friends. He tells Job that God is always right and uses suffering to help people grow closer to Him. He says God is just, powerful, and wise. He tells Job to stop complaining and trust God.
Observations and Questions
Job 32:
- Who is Elihu, and why is he speaking now?
- How does Elihu defend his right to speak, even though he is younger than the others?
- How does Elihu describe his feelings toward the situation?
After Job and his three friends have finished speaking, Elihu, a young man, steps in to speak. He is upset with both Job and his friends. He believes the older men haven’t answered Job well, and he feels the need to speak up. Elihu defends his right to speak, saying that even though he is young, he has wisdom and understanding from God. He also claims that his mind is full of what he has heard, and he can no longer keep silent. Elihu speaks impartially and seeks to refresh the conversation with new insights, hoping to address Job’s complaints and the false accusations of his friends.
Job 33:
- What does Elihu say about God’s ways of speaking to people through suffering?
- How does Elihu explain the purpose behind Job’s pain?
- Why does Elihu ask Job to respond to him, and what does he want from Job?
Elihu directly addresses Job, asking him to listen to what he has to say. He believes that Job has spoken harshly about God and misunderstood the reasons for his suffering. Elihu argues that suffering is not a punishment for sin, but a means by which God speaks to people and helps them grow spiritually. He highlights that God uses suffering to teach people lessons, such as patience and hope. Elihu also emphasizes God’s sovereignty and how He speaks through dreams, pain, and suffering to guide people to a deeper understanding. Elihu asks Job to listen to him carefully, acknowledging that he wants to help Job understand the greater purpose behind his afflictions.
Job 34:
- How does Elihu prove that God is just and wise in His dealings with people?
- What is Elihu’s main accusation against Job in this chapter?
- What does Elihu teach Job about how to respond to suffering and God’s actions?
Elihu continues speaking, this time addressing Job’s earlier complaints about God’s justice. Elihu firmly defends the idea that God is just, powerful, and sovereign. He explains that God is in control of all things, that He cannot do wrong, and that He rewards and punishes according to His perfect will. Elihu rebukes Job for questioning God’s justice and encourages him to accept his suffering as part of God’s greater plan. He stresses that God’s actions are always righteous and that Job should trust in God’s wisdom, even when it’s hard to understand. Elihu concludes by urging Job to humble himself and acknowledge God’s goodness and justice.