Zophar also expresses disbelief that Job is blameless, implying that since Job is suffering such calamity, it must be God’s judgment for his wrongdoing. He tells him that if he would only seek God and repent of his sin and forsake it, his fortunes would turn. He is setting himself up in the place of God! Job’s friends are a warning for us as we respond to hurting people in our spheres of influence.
Note Job’s sarcastic response in verses 12:1-3; and he again slams the wisdom and comfort of his friends in verses 13:1-5.
A popular quote from Job is found in verse 13:15. This is popular because it displays Job’s lovely character in the midst of suffering. He bows to God’s sovereignty, rather than trying to manipulate God or shake a fist in His face. Submission to God, as demonstrated by this blameless and upright man, doesn’t mean we can’t and shouldn’t bring our questions to Him. Can’t we trust God with our questions? However, confronting God having already drawn the conclusion that if He doesn’t grant my heart’s desire then I refuse to believe that He is God, is not the model of questioning given to us in Job.
Have circumstances ever caused you to question that God is who He says He is? When innocent people suffer unjustly, how can man not doubt God’s justice? When evil befalls us, how can we continue to believe that God is good? Or is it that He is in fact just and good, but the problem is caused by the fact that He’s not as powerful as He claims to be? I once asked God to clarify for me such questions, and He did in such a way that my confidence in His goodness and power has never again been shaken. Only He can provide answers that can withstand the fire of hard trials. We need to follow the example given us and ask the questions that burn in our minds, keeping in mind that God is sovereign God Almighty. He doesn’t have to answer; He doesn’t owe us anything, and certainly not an explanation. However, if we are truly seeking Him, rather than seeking our own prosperity; seeking to know Him rather than seeking to vent our anger and frustration upon Him or seeking to manipulate Him as if He were the creature and we were God, He may enlighten us. Then we will be truly enlightened. If we don’t ask, we probably won’t understand. Then Satan is left with the opportunity to move in on us like he did on Eve, and we have left ourselves vulnerable to his attacks.
Job asked. By the end of the book, God answered. In the meantime, there are a lot more words. Another lesson of Job might be that we should speak fewer words, thus minimizing our opportunity to embarrass ourselves.