Devotion - Monday, October 6

I am nearing the end of the cycle of daily readings from the Book of Job.  This is a fascinating book to me, one that I am continually trying to glean for wisdom and insight. 

In the 32nd chapter, it is Elihu who speaks.  I like his speech for several reasons.  First, because he speaks for God.  His words are the words that appear to be the words that Job and the others speakers need to hear.

Second, Elihu is young.  He even apologizes for daring to speak among the aged and revered elders of his community:

I am young in years,

and you are aged;

therefore I was timid and afraid

to declare my opinion to you.

I said, "Let days speak,

and many years teach wisdom."

But it is the spirit in a person,

the breath of the Almighty, that makes a person understand.

As I move into the latter years of my life and my ministry I remember how these words emboldened me when I was your age.  I would go to student conferences at which we would formulate resolutions on equal rights or water conservation or human sexuality and we would send these resolutions to the authority figures of the Church.  And we would say to ourselves, "It is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that makes the person understand."

I read these words differently now.  I hear in them the reminder that while I have been at this task for many decades I do not hold the corner on insight.  Often (most often) it is one of you who see the way and expose the appropriate path forward.

The breath of the Almighty is within you.  Let no one despise you because of your youth.  Be a faithful servant of God; and use that breath within you to speak the Word which has been placed on your heart and in your mouth.