I’ve shown in my previous study that the text tells us how God had communicated with mankind throughout the ages. He spoke to him in dreams and visions, through the things he created and through our own consciences. The clearest manner of divine communication, however, is through the written word of God. Through it, we not only have a history of the way God communicated to men and how men responded, but we have a picture of God in the flesh via the life of Christ (John 1:1, 14). Thus, we are able to understand what God is like, and in him we have an example of how we should live out our lives (John 13:15; 1Peter 2:21; 1John 2:6). Nevertheless, God has given man free will. We are not automatons who must behave according to our instructions. We are able to disobey and understand the consequences of such behavior. We have been in the state of rebellion against God since Genesis 3. From that time onward we’ve been cast out of God’s presence and are no longer able to perceive him, either his Person or what he tells us. Nevertheless, we have been brought near through Christ (Ephesians 2:16-19), but the decision to choose to walk with him is still ours.
According to Elihu, when man continually refuses to obey God, the Lord will chasten him with pain (Job 33:19-22; cp. Philippians 3:7-10). Obviously, Elihu is contending with Job, implying he had rejected God’s instructions, and Job’s present condition (Job 33:20-21; cp. 19:20) was evidence of his wickedness, and represented the prodding of God to get him to cease his wicked behavior and get him to repent before his entire life was destroyed (cp. Job 33:16-18).
In Job 33:23 Elihu mentions a messenger (H4397; also translated angel), saying: “if there be a messenger…” vis-à-vis for that one who had refused instruction but is now in the state of repentance, “…a messenger (who is) an interpreter, one among a thousand who would declare for man (viz. for Job) his righteousness…” In other words, he paints a picture of what would occur, if Job repents. A messenger or mediator would stand for him and plead his righteousness, asking God to “deliver him from going down to the pit (death), for he (the mediator) had found a ransom (Job 33:24).
Scholars are divided as to whom this messenger might be. Some think he is an angel,[1] others a prophet or simply a faithful servant of the Lord. Some even believe Elihu referred to himself. Still others, including some modern scholars, see the coming of Christ in Elihu’s statement, and if one reads Elihu’s words for their own sake alone, they can certainly be understood to point to the Messiah. However, if they are read in the context of Elihu’s purpose to answer Job and teach him wisdom (cp. Job 33:33), the inference points to himself. He is Job’s messenger and intended mediator, who will sacrifice for him, if he turns from his wickedness and repents (cp. Job 42:7-9). Elihu is simply referring to Job’s own words, when he asked for a mediator to plead his case (Job 9:33). Elihu is saying he would plead for Job before the Lord and bring a sacrifice for him, if he repents.
Elihu promises that Job’s flesh would return to normal, even as fresh as a babe’s newborn flesh (Job 33:25; cp. 2Kings 5:14), for God is merciful and would be gracious to him, and Job would be joyful in his presence, when the Lord would restore him to his former righteous status (Job 33:26), meaning he would save Job from death and give him a long life (Job 33:28), if Job would be willing to confess his sins, and admit he wasn’t profited by his perverted lifestyle (Job 33:27).
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[1] The LXX refers to the messenger as the Angel of Death! Some believe a good angel is intended, and others believe the good angel is a mediator. Maimonides was of the latter opinion.
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