A Little Hope Please
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For He maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and His hands make whole.” Job 5:17-18
Job’s so-called friend, Eliphaz, began his long diatribe of unsolicited advice, his analysis of Job’s dilemma, and his personal judgment of Job in Chapter 4, but unfortunately for Job and the readers of the book of Job, Eliphaz wasn’t finished, not by a long shot. He continued in Chapter 5 by challenging Job to call on anyone who was living a righteous and holy life and ask them about their life experiences. Eliphaz was so confident about his judgment toward Job, that Job was not the righteous man that he claimed to be, that Eliphaz was certain that any righteous person would back him up. Eliphaz was attempting to get Job to compare himself with others in an effort to force him to recognize that he was not as “goody-goody” as he made out to be.
Eliphaz didn’t let up in his analysis of Job’s problems. He said that the wicked may think their children are safe and secure, that nothing can harm them, but then all of a sudden, they are crushed by the walls and the heavy gate of the house in which they thought they were safe. This was apparently a reference to the loss of Job’s own children. To me, that reference seems terribly cruel to a grieving parent. Eliphaz implied that righteous men did not have to suffer such a loss, thus the death of Job’s children must be the fault of Job. He didn’t stop there either. What about Job’s wealth, his crops, his livestock, and all of his possessions? Why would an unrighteous, foolish, and envious man be so blessed by being able to keep it all with no fear of losing it all? Doesn’t the wicked deserve judgment? I don’t know how Job endured these hateful insults. This day and age, someone who is so judgmental and insulting wouldn’t be tolerated.
Perhaps Eliphaz began to listen to himself and decided to tone it down a bit. Or maybe he realized that Job needed some encouragement. He reminded Job that nothing happens by chance. He was right about that. There is no such thing as luck, good or bad. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Eliphaz pointed out that man is born into trouble describing trouble as “sparks that fly upward”. All people, due to the sin of Adam and Eve, are born in sin, with a sin nature, thus being natural sinners, troubles are the result from a life of sin, and the consequences which bring afflictions (Romans 5:12). The sin that comes out of a sinful heart is like the sparks that fly upward from a fire. Heat rises and so do sins for the sin nature can’t contain them. Sin begets more sin.
Eliphaz began to urge Job to seek the LORD. That was good advice, but Eliphaz’s rebuke of Job came across as if Eliphaz would never react the way that Job was reacting to his tragic situation. He was not only judgmental; he was also prideful. However, he did have some beneficial things to say concerning the LORD. He was confident that God does great, unsearchable, and marvelous things, more than anyone can number. He was encouraging Job to turn himself and his dilemma over to the LORD. There was no point in quarreling with and complaining to God, which Job had been doing. Who are we to judge God for our situation? We can’t argue with Eliphaz’s logic, but it was his attempt to read Job’s heart and assume the worse about Job’s spiritual struggle that made Eliphaz out to be judge and jury over Job’s case.
When Eliphaz told Job that he should be happy that God is correcting him and not to despise God’s chastening, if I didn’t know better, I would think that Eliphaz had been reading passages from the New Testament, particularly Hebrews 12:6-7 and I Peter 5:10. The writer of Hebrews points out how God cares about His own, how that He “chasens and scourges” everyone who belongs to Him to keep them in the path of righteousness. Peter wrote that suffering strengthens and settles those who belong to the Lord. Also, John wrote in Revelation 3:19 that Jesus rebukes and chastens all those whom He loves. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:31-32 that we are judged and chastened so that we won’t be condemned with the world. Thus, Eliphaz was offering some excellent and trustworthy advice which he likely had never had to use on himself. He is telling a man in the pit of an earthly hell to be happy for his misery and not to fret, moan, and complain about his condition for it is all for his own good.
Remember that the belief in ancient times and still somewhat held today is that one who lives righteously practically obligates God to prosper him or her, and one who is sinful can only expect trouble in life. Much of what Eliphaz said is true but not for the reason that he believed. God does provide and protect those who are His because He chooses to do so. He doesn’t base His love on our righteousness. Also remember that Job and his friends did not have the scriptures like we do to help them understand about the Lord and what He requires for His creation. They did know that He required righteousness and obedience, but they didn’t understand that righteousness and obedience could only be obtained from One who could forgive their sin by His own righteousness and obedience.
Next week: Job’s Response