January 29th

Job 35:1-37:24

The young Elihu continued his ranting, talking longer than any of Job’s friends and reproving him with every word. “If men cry out and God does not answer,” he said, “it is because of their pride. It is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. It is even more false to say that He doesn’t see what is going on. He will bring about justice if you will only wait” (35:11-14).

Elihu accused Job of pride, misguided motives, and impatience. In fact, Elihu condemned Job for the same reason the old men were condemning him — sin in his life. So then, after all the venting, Elihu’s arguments were the same.

You know, Elihu’s speech got me to thinking about the arguments that the world raises today, regarding why people suffer. It’s hard for our worldly-minded friends to understand why bad things happen to good people.

Many people will even say that the existence of suffering trumps the idea that there is a loving God; for how can there be a loving God with the existence of so much evil in our world? However, the concept of evil is not a good argument against the existence of God. In fact, the existence of evil is a powerful argument for the existence of God. How so?

For us to understand what is evil, we must first understand what is good. How can we know what is good without a standard for good? Without a standard for good, we would never know what is evil, right? So then, there must be a standard of good in the universe, and, of course, we know that standard of good is God.

Just as Elihu brought new attitude to the discussion with Job and his friends, he still raised the same old argument. Likewise, many of our brightest minds today bring fresh zeal and passion to the same old arguments against God, the Bible, and Christianity; yet, all three prevail. Why? “There is nothing new under the sun,” Solomon wrote; and, nothing under the sun is able to expose a weakness in the very One who made the sun.

Daily Reflection

Have you ever had doubts or struggles regarding God, Christianity, or the Bible? Explain.

What does it prove that these three still prevail despite the age-old arguments against them?

It is never wrong to doubt or question, but I would encourage you to find the answers you seek. Dwelling on unanswered questions is harmful to your faith. Take heart, no question has ever debunked God, Christianity, or the Bible. Neither will yours.

BiAY.org |Day 29 — 336 Days to Go