Job 36: Revealing the Sovereignty of God

Introduction:  In Job 36, Elihu clarifies and offers an interpretation of Job’s sufferings. Elihu illustrates the importance of God’s righteousness, inscrutability, and power. He proposes that suffering may serve to educate, correct, and bring individuals into a closer relationship with God. This chapter brims with theological insight into the nature and ways of God, inviting us to consider its message and implications for our lives.

I. Job 36:1-4 God’s Righteousness

In these verses, Elihu declares his intention to justify God’s righteousness. He underscores that God is perfectly just in all His ways (Deuteronomy 32:4). Elihu’s words echo the sentiments of Abraham, who said, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25). This trust in God’s righteousness is also embodied by the Psalmist, who declared, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne” (Psalms 89:14).

II. Job 36:5-12 God’s Inscrutability

Elihu depicts God as beyond human understanding, emphasizing His incomprehensibility (Isaiah 55:8-9). He reminds Job, and us, of the limits of human wisdom when compared to God’s knowledge (Isaiah 40:28). Elihu’s words are reflected in Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he expresses awe at the depths of God’s wisdom and knowledge (Romans 11:33).

III. Job 36:13-21 God’s Power

Elihu describes God’s mighty power, which is displayed both in His wrath against the wicked and His compassion for the afflicted. Elihu’s description of God’s omnipotence is a recurring theme in the Bible, from the creation account in Genesis (Genesis 1:1) to the visions of God’s throne in Revelation (Revelation 4:11). Elihu’s words echo the sentiments of Jeremiah who acknowledged God’s supreme power (Jeremiah 32:17).

IV. Job 36:22-33 God’s Sovereignty

Elihu ends this discourse by describing God’s majesty, emphasizing His sovereignty over all creation. He notes God’s control over nature, a sentiment echoed in Psalms which proclaim God’s reign over the natural world (Psalm 104:1-35). Elihu’s description of God’s sovereignty is also mirrored in Paul’s letter to the Colossians (Colossians 1:16), which describes Christ’s authority over all creation.

Conclusion: In Job 36, Elihu presents a rich theological perspective of God’s righteous character, His inscrutable wisdom, His unrivaled power, and His sovereign control over creation. This chapter helps us understand that we serve a God who is not only powerful and sovereign, but also righteous and wise. Elihu’s discourse reminds us that even in the midst of our trials, we can trust in God’s character and His perfect ways. As we navigate through life’s challenges, may we remember Elihu’s words, and trust in the God who is always righteous, beyond our understanding, powerful, and sovereign.