The Tag-Along Friend

Job, purported to be the oldest book in the Bible, is the story of a man who lost everything overnight. His wealth, his kids, his reputation, his health. An unprecedented disaster.

Three of his oldest friends and one younger tag-along came to visit Job in his distress. The sight of Job and his tremendous grief caused these friends to be speechless for seven days.

Over the course of time, the three old friends give words of advice and opinion.
“You must have displeased the Almighty, Job! Perhaps there is sin in your heart. Your motives are wrong. You are a proud man and God is humbling you. Surely you have displeased God somehow.”

On and on for hours, these three old friends and Job went; them accusing and surmising, Job defending his innocence, cursing his existence and demanding answers from God.

Finally, the younger tag-along friend speaks up. He’s had enough of this ceaseless back and forth between Job and the three sages. He scolds them with “I thought wisdom came with age! But I see now that sometimes elders are not wise and the aged do not understand justice. I know that the Spirit of the Almighty within a person is what makes one wise.”

Take special note:
Three old friends speak with accusation and condemnation supposing they have understood Job’s motives. Their words and physical posture are earthward. I imagine Job’s eyes are downcast, head hanging and his body is folded into itself.
Tag-along speaks to Job, first of all assuring equality and insisting “I want to see you avenged, Job!” But Tag-along does not accuse or condemn. He doesn’t even point toward motives.

Tag-along speaks of the awesomeness of the Almighty. He worships. Declares. Shouts truth. He demands Job look up to the sky and consider the Almighty. He insists on a different posture: eyes upward. Head lifted. Hands and heart open. Tag-along magnifies the characteristics of God.

For six entire chapters in the book of Job, the Tag-along friend (Elihu) magnifies the Almighty. Out of those six chapters, there are only a handful of verses wherein Elihu uses Job’s own words against him and accuses him of arrogance. He says: “Job, you’re asking God the wrong questions. You are accusing God of being unjust in bringing this calamity upon you. You have spoken like a fool.” Elihu states some hard-to-hear truths while constantly pointing to the justice and eternal wisdom of God.

When his impassioned speech is exhausted, God steps in. The Almighty is now provoked to answer Job.

Incredible, isn’t it? How one person can evoke a response from the Almighty on behalf of another. Tag-along friend defended the righteousness of God and this simple, yet profound acknowledgement of God’s goodness is what turned the tide in Job’s favor. God comes and speaks personally to Job, asking and at the same time answering all the questions.

Job ends with: “Forgive me, God. I was talking about things I knew nothing of. I had only heard about you before, God. But now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said. I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

The Almighty is found to be righteous; His wisdom overreaching the known world.
Job is humbled with a sense of hope rising in his heart.
God does not condemn. He uncovers sin (motive, in this case) and offers hope. Redemption.
Man might accuse and insist having understood motives. People may condemn. Judge.
But it took the younger, Tag-along friend to bring clarity. It was Elihu’s impassioned speech that provoked an answer from God.

You may also have a Tag-along kind of friend. A friend who demands that you change your posture, perspective and start asking different questions.
Perhaps you can practice being a friend like this to others. A friend who evokes a response from the Almighty on behalf of another.

God honors friends like these.

All who are wise will show the Almighty reverence.

Job 37:24b