Single lesson
Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate
Job 36:1–33
In Job 36:1–33, Elihu continues his speech about God’s character and power. He says God is mighty, just, and wise, and he uses both affliction and the workings of the weather to make his point.
Before you teach
This passage belongs to Elihu’s ongoing speech in a wisdom dialogue. He says he speaks on God’s behalf and ascribes righteousness to his Maker. The passage moves from God’s justice and instruction, to warnings addressed as “you”, and then to God’s greatness seen in rain, clouds, thunder, and lightning.
Explain the central teaching of Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate, using two details from the reading. This passage presents God as righteous, powerful, and beyond human mastery, while urging listeners to heed his instruction and honour his works.
Welcome: Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate
5 minIntroduce “Elihu Describes God’s Power” and locate Job 36:1–33. This passage presents God as righteous, powerful, and beyond human mastery, while urging listeners to heed his instruction and honour his works. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Job 36:1, Job 36:17, Job 36:33
Read and explain the passage
12 minElihu asks to be heard a little longer because he still has more to say on God’s behalf. He wants to ascribe righteousness to his Maker. He says God is mighty and does not despise anyone, and that he gives justice to the afflicted rather than preserving the wicked.
Elihu says God delivers the afflicted by affliction and opens their ear in oppression. He adds that “he would have allured you out of distress” into a wide place, but then says, “you are full of the judgment of the wicked”. He warns against riches, bribes, false confidence, and choosing iniquity.
Elihu says God is exalted in power and unmatched as a teacher. People should magnify his work, yet God remains greater than human knowledge. Elihu then points to rain, clouds, thunder, light, and lightning. These works affect people, giving food in abundance and showing God’s power through the storm.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Elihu Describes God’s Power”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Job 36:2, Job 36:3, Job 36:5, Job 36:6, Job 36:15, Job 36:16, Job 36:17, Job 36:18, Job 36:19, Job 36:21, Job 36:22, Job 36:24, Job 36:26, Job 36:27, Job 36:29, Job 36:31, Job 36:32, Job 36:33
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What does Elihu say God does for people in affliction?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage presents God as righteous, powerful, and beyond human mastery, while urging listeners to heed his instruction and honour his works. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Job 36:9, Job 36:10, Job 36:16, Job 36:17, Job 36:27, Job 36:28, Job 36:29, Job 36:32, Job 36:33
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Elihu Describes God’s Power” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Job 36:1, Job 36:17, Job 36:33
Closing: return to Elihu Describes God’s Power
3 minRevisit Job 36:1–33. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Elihu Describes God’s Power and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Job 36:1, Job 36:17, Job 36:33
Questions to explore
What does Elihu say God does for people in affliction?
Look for the actions God takes: he shows their work, opens their ears to instruction, and commands them to turn from iniquity.
Job 36:9, Job 36:10
What changes when Elihu turns to “you” in the middle of the passage?
Notice both parts of the contrast: being allured out of distress into a wide place, and then being full of the judgment of the wicked.
Job 36:16, Job 36:17
Which parts of weather does Elihu use to speak about God’s greatness?
List the images named in the passage and observe how they point to God’s power rather than human control.
Job 36:27, Job 36:28, Job 36:29, Job 36:32, Job 36:33
Make, think or respond
Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Job 36:1–33. Use “Elihu Describes God’s Power” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Job 36: Comparing the Voices in the Debate connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Elihu Describes God’s Power” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Job 36:1–33. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Job 36:1–33. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Job 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and doesn’t despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He doesn’t preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He doesn’t withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don’t listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Don’t desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, don’t regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, ‘You have committed unrighteousness’?
24 “Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we don’t know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also, concerning the storm that comes up.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.