As Job laments his way through a world of suffering, warding off false charge after false charge from his three closest acquaintances, a younger man named Elihu has also been listening.

And as soon as Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar have hushed, Elihu speaks. (In fact: “These three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.” Job 32:1)

But the first thing we learn about Elihu is that he has a temper! Job 32:2 tells us: “Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.”

The particular noun for “wrath” (used twice in this one verse) is spelled “aph” in Hebrew. It’s really the word for “nostril!” And it apparently implies anger that is so vehement that one “snorts” as he rants and raves, being that out of control!

But this young man is not through yet, with his “anger.” Verse 3 adds: “Also against Job’s three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.” Wow, he’s mad at everybody!

Yet again, in Job 32:5, we are told: “When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.” The verb “kindled” as used here means “set on fire, hot, incensed,” just plain “furious!”

Seems to me that good, sound advice seldom comes from a man so upset, so mad!

Proverbs 15:8 commends the man who is “slow to wrath,” but Elihu is NOT that man!

And Proverbs 19:11 praises the man who “defers” his anger, which Elihu is NOT now doing!

Furthermore, Proverbs 27:4 declares: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous.” And I’m wondering if Elihu is about to that level of wrath, already in the first chapter of his long speech!

He is about to explode! Hear him again in Job 32:19. “Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.”

This is a far cry from our Lord Jesus of Whom it was prophesied: “Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.” Psalm 45:2

Back to Solomon once more: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.” Proverbs 22:24 here makes me even more leery of Elihu and his wrath.

More about him tomorrow, Lord willing.

But so far, I am skeptical.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Prolonged anger is a sin. That’s for sure. Instant anger can be too, of course. Paul wrote us: “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” Elihu didn’t get that message, apparently!