Elihu's Understanding Of Ransom: A Price Paid For Redemption

Key Passage: Job 33:14-30

Elihu waited for his turn to speak to Job, because he was younger than the three other friends who had come to comfort Job. As Elihu began to speak he emphasized his dependence on divine inspiration. For instance consider this portion of opening statements: "I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I though, 'Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.' But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right." (Job 32:6-9). We must also remember that later when God spoke, He rebuked Job's three friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar for what they said, but not Elihu.

As Elihu begin to reason with Job, he rebuked Job for his self-righteous attitude and acusing God of denying him justice. In the passage quoted above, Elihu states how God attempts to speak to man through dreams and visions to turn man from the error of his ways. God may even speak in the midst of sickness and pain to draw a man back to Himself. Even when a man is sick upon his bed, drawing near to the grave, if there is a messenger to explain to the sufferer what is the right thing to do, and turn him back in repentance towards God - and if the man does repent - then God if gracious to him and says "spare him from going down to the pit (destruction), I have found a ransom for him."

A ransom is a price paid for redemption. When some one is held as a hostage, the price that is paid to obtain their freedom is a ransom. The process of obtaining their freedom from captivity is redemption. The Hebrew word used in verse 24 translated "ransom" refers to a redemption price, a ransom, an atonement. It is also used to refer to a covering for sin and also in the sense of expiation - to make amends for sin, to appease.

It is interesting to note that the concept of a ransom - a redemption price - was understood at that early time. It is also interesting to note that this was held in connection with bringing some one out of sickness and saving them from destruction. The "pit" could refer to both physical and eternal destruction.