Job 35:9-13

In Job 24:1-12, Job spoke about the poor people who were suffering because of their cruel rulers. And Job complained that God was not helping these people. Elihu’s answer to Job was in two parts:

• Perhaps those poor people did not deserve to suffer (Job 34:23-28). Whenever they cried, they prayed to God for help. Elihu believed that God would often help such people (Job 34:28). God listened to their cries. So God would punish their cruel rulers.

• But perhaps those poor people were evil (Job 35:9-13). They were too proud to pray to God. They did not realise that God is good. They were not grateful for all God’s good gifts. Instead, they were angry. And they complained. God would not listen to their hopeless cries.

Job had not thought about this. He imagined that poor people would always be innocent. He heard their cries. So he supposed that they were praying. He did not imagine that they might be opposing God.

When Job complained, Job did not respect God

v14 Moreover, God does not listen when you complain, Job. You say that:

• You do not see God. He has vanished!

• God is your judge. But you must wait until he has time for you.

• v15 God never punishes evil men.

v16 And all these ideas are nonsense. Job spoke these words without knowledge of the reality.