When Job’s friends stop answering Job, a new character called Elihu gives a long speech. What does Elihu contribute to their discussion? Though he is younger, he provides a new perspective on Job’s suffering. Elihu thinks that God allows suffering for the righteous not to punish them but to deliver them from destruction. God speaks to the righteous in their suffering. For the ungodly, suffering will result in destruction. But for God’s people, suffering will be instructive and corrective. It is not a fire of destruction but a fire of purification.