Editorial July 18, 1925 Issue

Inspiration Always Available

Ella W. Hoag

After Elihu had listened patiently to the ineffective reasoning of Job and his three friends in their endeavor to discover the cause and the way out of Job's difficulties, it is written of Elihu that "against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job." Elihu then began to talk from an entirely different standpoint, declaring, "There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

Job and his three friends had argued from the mistaken basis of self-righteousness and condemnation, and they had neither discovered the cause of Job's suffering nor delivered him from it. Elihu, recognizing that it is only direct inspiration from God which gives the understanding wherewith to solve all problems, was able so to awaken Job to the voice of God that he was finally willing to acknowledge his own shortcomings. He then replied to God by saying: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Thus Job reached that mental attitude of true humility which alone can receive healing.

In "Unity of Good" (p. 46) Mrs. Eddy tells us, "All Truth is from inspiration and revelation,—from Spirit, not from flesh." While in "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 100, 101) she has said: "Who knows how the feeble lips are made eloquent, how hearts are inspired, how healing becomes spontaneous, and how the divine Mind is understood and demonstrated? He alone knows these wonders who is departing from the thraldom of the senses and accepting spiritual truth."

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