Job 36:5-10 (ESV Strong's)
“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any;
he is mighty in strength of understanding.
He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives the afflicted their right.
He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
And if they are bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
He opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they return from iniquity.
Tag: God Opens Eyes
When we walk with God we have God directing our path(s). In the above passage, Elihu is speaking to Job and his three friends. They have wandered into a discussion of “who is at fault” for Job’s pain and suffering. Elihu is focusing them all on God and His sovereign work in the hearts of mankind. As he develops his thoughts and sharpens their focus, we see a key phrase to consider:
“He opens their ears to instruction and commands that’s they return from iniquity.”
When Paul was called to be a servant of Christ on the Damascus Road, here is what Jesus said to him in regard to his future mission:
Acts 26:16-18 (ESV Strong's)
But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Paul’s mission was to bring the Gospel to “open their eyes ...”. Elihu is telling Job to allow God to open his eyes to see the glory of God. In fact he previously said to Job:
Job 35:5 (ESV Strong's)
Look at the heavens, and see;
and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.
He wants Job to quit looking at himself and his sores and look up and see the vision of God on the throne. When our eyes a closed to the power and majesty of God we can only see the frailty and futileness of our own works and efforts. Only God can open the eyes for us to see Him and His Majesty. When He does and we do we quit looking at the mess around us and behold the glory before us. Open our eyes, Lord!!!
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