Job 22-24 Third Round Eliphaz
Job’s friends haven’t given up. It’s time for the third round and Eliphaz starts us off. He says that Job’s wickedness is huge!
The debate rages on. No one is really listening to what the other is saying, or being persuaded by it. I wonder how long this debate lasted. Did it all happen in one day or did it take several? Was there time in between the speakers or did they all jump in right away? Was Job given ‘time to process’ what they said? And, how long did he take to respond to each accusation? Did any of them take time to consider what was being said or did they cling to their assumptions without wavering?
Job is either very stubborn or absolutely certain of his ‘righteousness’ that he doesn’t give an inch. Personally, I wouldn’t be able to be that certain. I would be looking for some ‘forgotten sin’ after being pelted so doggedly. Let’s rejoin our group as they sit together on the ground, trying to convince one another of their viewpoint. Holy Spirit, please lead this journey again today. Help me hear what these men are saying.
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Job continues to blame God for his circumstances. Eliphaz is appalled at Job’s words. He can’t keep silent any longer.
“Do you think you are adding anything to God by being wise or blameless? In doing so you are profiting yourself, not God. Your actions don’t diminish or increase His power. It is you who ‘profits’ from your actions. And your actions are not profitable at all!”
Eliphaz points a finger straight in Job’s face.
“You are FULL of iniquity! Your words show that you don’t fear God and for that, you are being judged. Besides that, you must have been hiding your true works from us. For surely, you have withheld help from those in need, defrauded the poor, harmed widows and orphans, and stolen from all those who come near you. These acts have become snares for you and now you are reaping your just reward.”
Eliphaz sits back and shakes his head.
“You claim to know the mind of God, but how could you? His mind and ways are high above ours. He judges rightly the hearts of man. Will you keep walking in the wicked ways, KNOWING that He sees and He acts against the wicked? The wicked do not prosper but are snatched away before their time.”
Eliphaz looks directly at Job again as he levels his accusation.
“God even blesses the wicked, in the beginning. But they become proud in themselves and tru.st in what He has given them. They say to God; ‘Depart from us,’ and ‘What can the Almighty do to us?’ (Job 22:17). God sees! And He repays their ways.”
Eliphaz puts his hand to his chest and then puts it out in front of him to stop what might be trying to touch him.
“The counsel of the wicked is FAR from me! The righteous see the wicked fall and are glad. The innocent mock them, saying; ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.’ (Job 22:20).”
Eliphaz pleads with Job.
“Agree with God that you have sinned and be made right. Receive His instructions and treasure them in your heart. Stop looking to the ‘wealth’ of this world for your security. He is worth more than all the gold in the world! If you return to Him, he will again hear your prayers and establish you in your ways. It is because of pride that you are brought down. The humble see this and are saved.”
Job rejects the words of Eliphaz; that he is proud. Instead, he continues to argue his own case against the Lord.
“I am weary and worn out. There is bitterness within me on account of my suffering. If I could find God, I would ask Him WHY He has done this to me! I have tried to find Him, but he is not answering me. If I could just lay my case out before Him, I could finally get some answers. I would present my evidence of innocence and ask Him why He has afflicted me. I’m certain that He would listen to me and I would be acquitted forever.”
Job spreads his arms wide.
“I have searched high and low for Him but cannot find Him. Yet He knows where I am. And when He has finished with whatever He is doing in me, I will come out as pure gold. Even in my pain; ‘My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food’ (Job 23:21-22).”
Job drops his head and tears fall down.
“I am afraid. I KNOW that He completes what He starts and none can turn Him back. He doesn’t change his mind. I know that He is going to complete all this, that He started in me. And I am worn out with my suffering.”
Job looks up.
“But I’m not dead yet and I’m not silenced! I am going to continue to cry out.”
Job shakes his head.
“Why doesn’t God choose specific times for judgment? Why doesn’t He tell those who follow His way what those times are? I don’t see the wicked being judged! I see men who practice all kinds of evil continuing on in it without any judgment for their sins. Those who move boundary stones, who harm widows and orphans, and who exploit the poor. They have reduced the poor to nakedness, have forced them to search in the wastelands for food for their children. They leave them cold and homeless. Yet, these wicked men continue on. And God doesn’t charge them with their wrong!”
Anger clouds Job’s face.
“The wicked are ‘friends’ of the darkness. They do their work under its cover. They don’t believe anyone will see them in their deeds. You say that God judges them by cursing their land, snatching their children, even taking their lives. You claim that they are broken like a tree, and the grave welcomes them.”
Job points his finger at his friends.
“That is not what I have seen. I have seen God prolong their days. He gives them long life, and if they tire of life, He lets them die! He gives them security in their ways. They live and die just like any other man and God does nothing to correct their ways.”
Job narrows his eyes and continues.
“If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” (Job 24:25).
(to be continued)
Job ends with a challenge to his friends. Eliphaz has accused him of doing all sorts of evil; even after knowing him for years. I want to know how they would not have been witness to Job’s behavior throughout the years, if he was doing as they said. At first, they praised him, but the longer his pain goes on, the more they condemn him. “You MUST have done something wrong” they cry out.
Job keeps telling his friends that he is innocent and God is unjustly punishing him. I have a question for Job. Who am I to tell God what He can and cannot do? HE knows what I need to keep me on His paths. And I’m certain that He had a purpose in all He did in Job’s life. I trust Him. He ALWAYS has a reason. I may not know it or understand it, but God does.
Father God, thank You that You ARE in control. Job’s despair was working something out in his life; even though he couldn’t see it. When I went through my hardest season, the result was that it brought me closer to You. I do NOT believe that You caused that season, but You used it to build something new in me. To strengthen me. It was HARD, and there were times I felt like ending it all. But YOU gave me something to hold onto even in those times. THANK YOU! You brought a deeper relationship with You from Job’s suffering too.
