Daily Manna 16 June
KEY VERSE: “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.” – (Job 32:9)
TEXT: Job 32:1-10
So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited [a]to speak to Job. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, [b]‘Age should speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great[c] men are not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
The idiom “Achilles’ heel” refers to weakness in spite of overall strength. The idiom relates to a Greek mythology about Achilles who was told that he would die young. To prevent this, his mother took him to the River Styx, which was supposed to offer powers to make him invincible and dipped his body into the water. However, as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles but eventually died when an arrow was shot at his heel. His vulnerable spot eventually limited his greatness.
Elihu, a much younger friend of Job, after carefully listening to the accusations and counter accusations between Job and his friends, decided to make his contributions to the debate. Usually, the elderly should moderate arguments, but in this instance, the younger was doing it. Elihu was not happy with Job because he thought he did not speak so reverently of God as he ought “because he justified himself rather than God”. He was angry at his friends “because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job”. He then stated his observation that many people we celebrate on earth lack the wisdom to match their prowess with grace. It is folly therefore to subscribe to the dictates of people because they are “great”.
Today, the situation is not different. Many notable men and women lack the knowledge of the true God and are unfortunately glorifying their folly. The Scriptures affirm that godly wisdom is from above and anyone who lacks it, no matter their greatness, is actually not wise.
We should seek God’s face for wisdom to enable us apply spiritual principles to our heart, home and family as we flourish in faith.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Godly wisdom is better than worldly greatness.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 1-3
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Limitation of Greatnesss – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 16 June 2021