“"If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?"”
Job 35:6
Summary
In Job chapter 35, Elihu continues his discourse, addressing Job's earlier questions about the value of righteousness and the tendency for wrongdoing to seemingly go unnoticed by God. Elihu challenges Job's perspective by asking why Job believes that his righteousness entitles him to special treatment from God or that his sin affects God in any way. Elihu emphasizes that human actions primarily affect other humans and not God Himself. He highlights the idea that God does not react to human behavior in the way humans might expect, because His ways are higher and His justice is perfect. Elihu also encourages Job to consider that God may have purposes beyond human understanding and that cries for help out of pure pride or self-interest do not capture God's attention like genuine cries of humility and faith.