Bible Chapter: Job 35 & 36

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Elihu continued his long speech.  He made an interesting statement:  If you sin, how does that affect God?  He appears to believe that God is far above and removed from us, so that nothing we do affects him.  This misses who God is.  God does respond to the actions of people.  We can hurt or bless God.  Obedience or rebellion impact God.  God really cares for people, what they do and how their actions impact eternity.  This is why we have that well-known verse, “For God so loved the world . . .”.
    It appears to me that Elihu is contradicting himself.  For he said that the sins and good deeds of people only affect other people, not God.  Then later he said that God is mighty and He gives justice to the afflicted.  If people obey God, then they are blessed.  To me this looks like a contradiction to the statement that our actions don’t get a response from God.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    In Bible stories like this, the things that people say are recorded.  The things said are not always what God would say.  I need to remember to study the context and interpret the Bible with the other books of the Bible.  The words of these companions of Job are not always words to guide my life.  This is a good lesson to think about what we say before we say it.  We need to line up our lives and words with the message of the Bible that God wants us to follow.

3.  How can I help someone?
    People don’t generally need long speeches.  They need to be pointed to God and learn of His love and forgiveness to all who truly repent and make HIM their Lord and Savior.