By (Read Job 34 as a family)
Elihu makes a wonderful assertion regarding the justice of God in this chapter. He says in verses 21-25:
““For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. (Job 34:21-25 ESV)”
Job had been making the claim that he wanted to go before God to plead his case. If he would be allowed to do this, he would surely be “in the right.” Elihu sweeps in and states in this chapter that “God has no need to consider man further, that he should go before God in judgement.” In other words, God does not need for Job to come into his courtroom so that he might learn some new facts from Job. There can be no further judgement based upon something Job might say. God already has all the information. He is ALL KNOWING.
This truth brings both comfort and discomfort. Comfort because it is surely sweet to know that God already knows everything about me. He knows my strengths and weaknesses. He knows where I am prone to wander, and what makes me afraid. He knows what others do and say to me and will make all justice sure in the end. But it brings discomfort to the one who wants to try and hide their sin and rebellion from God. This is the exact truth I told my son Sammy last night. He did something yesterday evening that was very foolish. I spoke with him outside and told him to wait in his bedroom for me. He cried for the next 10 minutes even though I told him not what I would do for his punishment. When I went into his room, I had him sit down on the floor with me and opened up to Proverbs chapter one. I told him that it was important that he was a wise boy, and showed him how to begin growing in wisdom. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” I read. I explained to him what it means to fear the Lord. One of the things I said was similar to what I am saying now regarding God being all knowing. I intended that truth to make my son uncomfortable, and trust the Spirit to do the work only he can.
“For his [God’s] eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21)
Leading Family Devotions 