Through suffering, God prepares his people to listen to his calls for repentance (as brought by God’s messengers, Job 33:32). Elihu’s argument is true, taken by itself. Countless believers can testify to the purifying effect that suffering has had on their lives (Psalm 119:67). However, as readers we know that it is not a valid explanation of Job’s suffering.
10 He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.