King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Chapters: Job 35-37
Message: Job: God in The Elements
Hello My Friend,
When God allowed Satan to afflict Job without cause, it became the perfect ammunition for the enemy to stir doubt and suspicion in the hearts of Job’s friends. What they witnessed did not match what they believed about God, suffering, or righteousness, so they filled the gaps with assumptions. Job maintained his innocence, but the more he defended himself, the more convinced they became that he must be hiding something. In their minds, protest sounded like proof, and integrity looked like denial. Yesterday, we learned about Elihu, who had been sitting among Job and the other three men, listening as they tried to convince Job that some hidden wickedness was the reason God was judging him. As we continue in the reading of Job, Elihu is still speaking.
[Job 35:2-7 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? 3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?]
See how he now tries to justify his own reasoning? He essentially argues that God is giving Job what he deserves because Job dared to claim that he was more righteous than God. Where did he get all that from? Again, Satan loves to twist words, especially God’s words, but Job did not say that as he implied it. There is not one of us that has not spoken out of context or ignorance to God’s Word a time or two, but the Holy Spirit teaches us that knowledge. And besides that, we do not even need His Word to know that some things are just God’s way of using it to show Him through them.
[Romans 2:14-16 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.]
Keep in mind that while Elihu was falsely condemning Job, the clouds were already gathering in the sky. Something far greater than Elihu’s speech was approaching. Job and the other believers did not have God’s written Word to guide them as we do today, but they did have a real knowledge of God. Even with that limited but sincere knowledge, these men were completely off in their accusations. Elihu presses even further, suggesting that Job was speaking in vain and that he had no true knowledge of God at all.
[Job 35:11-16 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.]
There is not one of us who has not, at some point, spoken out of context or out of ignorance concerning God’s Word. And even beyond Scripture, there are things in life that clearly reveal God’s hand—moments, circumstances, and mercies that testify of Him without a single verse being read. Elihu, however, was so determined to prove that Job was guilty—and so eager to show Job’s friends that they had failed to convince him—that he never stopped to consider that he himself was speaking in vain. And to make matters worse, he now attempts to speak as though he is God’s representative, as if he alone understands what God is doing.
[Job 36:2-7 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.]
Elihu was quick to proclaim that his understanding of God was the only correct one, but in doing so he revealed his own foolishness. He believed that nothing bad ever happens to someone who is truly righteous, and that if calamity strikes, it must be because the person is wicked. His entire argument rests on a rigid, oversimplified view of God’s justice. He goes on to speak about how merciful God is to those who repent, yet in the same breath insists that the wicked will never have the opportunity to be saved.
[Job 36:10-14 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. 13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.]
There it is again—the prosperity gospel mindset. It is the idea that if you trust Christ as your Saviour, obey Him, and serve Him on their terms, then God will make you wealthy. But God has never operated this way. Prosperity, in the biblical sense, has nothing to do with accumulating wealth. It is about God’s favor resting upon His people. It is our thriving, our growing, our increasing in the knowledge of God, and being blessed through our faithfulness to Him. Elihu fell into the same trap—assuming that suffering proves wickedness and blessing proves righteousness. He even goes on to suggest that God has set Job aside because of his inequity.
[Job 36:16-21 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. 17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.]
In other words, he believes Job rather die in his sin rather than admit it and have that ransom paid. There is some truth to what Elihu was trying to say, because there is a ransom due for all who have sinned. But the reality is that we could never pay that ransom ourselves. Our iniquities do not stop—not even after we are saved. We still fall short, we still stumble, and we still need grace every single day. Thankfully, we have Someone who paid that ransom for us. With His own blood, Christ satisfied the debt we could never pay, and through Him we will be delivered from the wrath of God, [1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.]
You cannot read this without thinking what Jesus said, [Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.]
We must remember that affliction is not proof that we have wandered off the straight and narrow. Some of the greatest blessings God gives us are born out of the greatest sorrows. Now watch what happens as Elihu tries to explain this to Job. Instead of acknowledging that the righteous can suffer and still be walking faithfully with God, he twists the idea entirely.
[Job 36:26-31 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.]
Now, this is true for those who are of the world: God and all His goodness remain hidden from them. Spiritual truth is invisible to the natural mind. This is why Jesus spoke in parables. We cannot know God if all we rely on is our own understanding. Human comprehension alone will never reveal the things of God; only the Spirit can open our eyes, [1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.]
You can almost see the first drops of rain beginning to fall as he shifts his focus to the power of God displayed in the elements as evidence of His majesty. And ironically, this is probably the only truthful and spiritually accurate thing he has said the entire time. While he speaks, the sky darkens, thunder rolls, and lightning flashes across the horizon. Elihu refers to these sounds as the very voice of God.
[Job 37:1-6 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. 2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.]
There is nothing on this earth that opens our ears to God more than a powerful storm, but I tell you this, there is even greater power in His still small voice, [1 Kings 19:11-12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.]
It is true that God does great things that we simply cannot understand. Right there, he is admitting that he does not always understand God’s ways and yet, he proceeds to accuse Job. Now, it was likely raining when Elihu is speaking this because he goes on to describe the clouds that he is seeing,
[Job 37:11-16 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?]
Perhaps Job did become discouraged, but there is not one faithful Christian who has not felt the same when there is no clear explanation for their affliction. Discouragement is not a sign of weak faith; it is a sign that we are human. When trials press in and judgment seems to come from every direction, that is precisely when we must seek God for guidance. Job and the other men understood this as well, but they erred in believing that they could not approach God as freely as we can today. Elihu goes on to suggest that no one can truly know God unless they are walking in His light.
[Job 37:19-24 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. 21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.]
Elihu had fragments of truth, but he applied them with a rigid, narrow understanding of God. Job’s story reminds us that God’s ways are far deeper, far wiser, and far more compassionate than human reasoning can grasp. Walking in God’s light does not shield us from suffering, but it does guide us through it, [1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.]
Today’s Prayer: God, One look at a thunderstorm is all I need to see just how powerful You are. I do not need to know every detail about how You made things to know that You made me, and that my life depends on Your Son. Thank You for Your Word that teaches me that the best way to walk is strait, but it is also leading me to much more than I could ever imagine. Lord, while some things are just too wonderful for me to comprehend, Your grace can get me through the afflictions. Let me not question Your ways, only ask that You to help me endure the storms, and trust that You will see me, carry me, and bless me through them. I love You and ask these things in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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