Job’s friends grow bolder in their assertions that Job’s wickedness is the cause of his suffering. Eliphaz accuses Job of lacking reverence for God and turning away from God in his refusal to acknowledge the guilt that has obviously brought him to this point. Again, we know that Job’s friends have it all wrong.
Eliphaz thinks they have been gentle with Job in offering the “consolations of God,” but consider how such counsel would understandably add to Job’s suffering. He is confused himself as to what has been the cause of his suffering, because his conscience is clean. Job feels like “they have slapped (him) on the cheek with contempt” and ganged up on him (verse 16:10).
They err in refusing to accept the fact that God’s ways are higher than their ways, and His thoughts than their thoughts (Isaiah 55:9), believing that they have the cause of suffering figured out completely. Their increasing boldness is perhaps due to the fact that they have found strength in numbers.
Their behavior needs to serve as a warning for us. Do we swoop in with a killer instinct when someone we know is suffering? Are we quick to accuse because we think, in the luxury of our non-suffering ease, that we know what God’s thoughts are in this matter? Do we feel strengthened in our position because of others’ backing, and so strengthen our attack? We must keep in mind that suffering is doubtless coming our way, or if it doesn’t, we should be concerned, for God accomplishes much through suffering. James says that trials work patience in us, which ultimately leads to greater perseverance. If this is how God grows us, we should be prepared for suffering ourselves. Hopefully this common human condition gives us compassion towards a suffering fellow human being. There is nothing like suffering to make us more compassionate toward the suffering of others.
Eliphaz accuses Job of lacking reverence for God, when in fact it is Eliphaz and his companions who lack reverence for God. For God has already called Job blameless – twice -, and Eliphaz has the audacity to speak for God, sure that he has God’s way in this matter figured out. This is another lesson for us. Jesus taught that before we judge another for his minor fault, we must first address our own greater faults. Fallen human nature is quick to condemn in others the very behavior with which one struggles himself, and slow to see his own fault. When I find myself judging others, I should use that as an occasion to examine myself. Help us, O God!
Again, Job is crying out for justice and longing to confront God about his confusion over why this is happening to him. Can you relate to his pain? It is adding tension to the plot of the story. His many words about his misery should help us to understand that he is utterly miserable, and to long for satisfying resolution for him. The erroneous wind of his friends and their smugness in their utter confidence of their assessment of the situation should frustrate us and make us long for justice for Job.
One week down! If you can keep up the reading for five more weeks, you’ll have established a habit of daily Bible reading. But let’s take it week by week, and focus on starting off week two strongly tomorrow.