THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS THROUGH ANYONE

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he.  But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

“I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.”

Job 32:1-9

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

How often do we discount the words of our youth? Too often maybe.

When we become older and advanced in years, we seem to assume the role of the wise elders, somehow elevated above those who have much less life experience to the point where we feel we are the only purveyors of wisdom.

We get a sense that this was the way it was in the days of Job. For a majority of the book, we have read Job sharing a lengthy exchange with his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. And through this time, we aren’t given any indication that anyone else is even involved. That is, not until we get to Chapter 32 and meet Elihu.

In the opening verses, we learn a little about Elihu. First, we know he is much younger than Job and his three friends. Second, we know he exercises respect for his elders as he has waited a long time to speak, having sat and listened to all the words that were spoken – patiently waiting for a time when he might be able to speak his mind. Finally, we know he is angry. Angry at Job for “justifying himself rather than God” and angry at Job’s friends because they had “found no way to refute Job and yet had condemned him.”

And so after Job’s friends had nothing more to say because Job was “righteous in his own eyes”, we find Elihu addressing them saying:

“I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.”

The words are profound.

For who can stake any claim to holding the keys to all wisdom and understanding? Who can say that they and they alone speak with the authority of the Almighty God?

The truth of the matter is that God can and will speak through anyone He wants to – young or old – through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. God is no discriminator when it comes to using His faithful and willing servants.

This is why in teaching from God’s word - no matter the setting – the class should be allowed to speak. For in the midst of any study, no matter how much preparation the leader has invested, the Holy Spirit may be ready to offer additional instruction and do it through anyone in the class. As a Bible teacher of nearly 20 years, I can speak from experience on this as I have witnessed it over and over and over again. I am never surprised when it happens but always awestruck by the beautiful and amazing work of the “Spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding” and then passes that understanding to others.

Friends, the Holy Spirit is alive and well and speaking to us every day. We need only listen and never discount who He will speak through. For as a young Elihu shares while empowered by the Holy Spirit:

“It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.”

Indeed, the Holy Spirit speaks through anyone.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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