Tuesday: A Man and his Maker
Eliphaz wouldn’t exactly win any awards for tact and sympathy with his opening lines. Basically he was saying that it was easy for Job to be a light and comfort to others when things were going well. But now that evil had befallen him, he’s “troubled.” Yet, shouldn’t he be? God is just, and so the evil that comes upon us is deserved.
Read Job 4:12–21. What other argument does Eliphaz present to Job?
Image © Erik Stenbakken from GoodSalt.com
There are many fascinating things one could look at here, including how these men understood the nature and character of the true God, even before the rise of the nation of Israel. This whole book shows us that, indeed, others besides the patriarchs and then eventually the Israelites knew something of the Lord. Here, in fact, we see Eliphaz seeking to defend the character of God.
What Eliphaz heard in “visions of the night” was in many ways very sound theology (see Ps. 103:14; Isa. 64:7; Rom. 3:19-20). We as humans are clay, we are so temporary, and we can be crushed as easily as a moth. And, of course, what man or woman can be more righteous than God?
On the other hand, his words were trite and beside the point. The issue with Job wasn’t whether Job was better than God. That was not Job’s complaint. He mostly talked about just how miserable he was, how much he was suffering, not that he was somehow more righteous than God.
Eliphaz, however, seems to have read all this into what Job said. After all, if God is just, and evil comes only upon evil, then Job must have done something to deserve what he was going through. Therefore, Job’s complaints were unfair. Eager to defend God, Eliphaz starts to lecture Job. Even more than just whatever collective wisdom he believed he had about God, Eliphaz had something else, as well: a supernatural revelation of some kind to buttress his position. The only problem, however, is that the position he took misses the point.
What can we learn from this account about how, even if we are right on a position, we might not be expressing it in the most helpful and redeeming way?
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Eliphaz, did not understand and believe what Job was going through. Him (Eliphaz) being a philosopher and knowing the things he only knew about God. That's why we see him giving a presentation of such a nature, which only injured Job more than the pain he was going through. We see, God does not bring evil to his people for he is a just and faithful God. Even when problems come in our lives, lets not blame God for it, instead we praise and worship Him.
Sometimes we are all too eager to put ourselves into a situation where we can lecture others. God does not need us to defend Him. Jesus was humble and loving, speaking the truth, but with tears in His voice. Not delighting in putting others "in their place."
Sympathize, even empathize if you will, but never be quick to pass judgment.
Often times we misjudge situations. We comment on them before we have all the facts. Eliphaz even after being with Job for a week still misunderstood Job. He, Job, was complaining about his pain and suffering, and not about God. He definitely misunderstood God, who he thought was punishing Job for some sin he had committed. This should be a lesson to all of us when we encounter our friends who are going through something. We should encourage them with words of "comfort and cheer" and try not to comment or make a judgement on why they are going through what they are going through. Peace.
now l understand why judging others is the sole responsibility of God, because men uses even Gods words to justify their misconceptions, sincere but sincerely wrong. May the Lord grant us the spirit of discernment
In this we learn never to underestimate the power of words to encourage people in the battles of life.The right words spoken at the right time and with the right motive, can make a tremendous diffrence in the lives of others. Your words cn nourish those whi are weak and encourage those who are defeated. But your words can also hurt those who are broken and only add to their burdens, so we need to be careful with what we say and how we say it to the greivin person. I also think esp in cases like these we need a spirit of discernment and we will only have it through prayer hence prayer is of paramount importance when dealing with such cases.
Stay blessed.
Our first duty is to know God. We are missing the point if we think we have to defend Him especially by putting others down. God has an interest in all men .He is closest to us when we are down. Eliphaz missed this important point. Let us not make the same mistake. Let us be like Jesus.
For Job to instruct and uphold the broken hearted was an easy task before he happened to face his predicament, but now trouble visited his household and he seems to be very much troubled by these circumstances that came so fast into his life. I would want to know what sort of instructions or words of encouragement was he using to strengthen the feebele knees, were their predicaments different from his? If theirs was not so different from his why was he so deffendant ? Maybe you may say Job knew he was right before his maker? A question again may come, is it right to see yourself as more righteous than others or is it safe for a mere man to say he is righteous? So why was Job acting that way?
Mattie: you are so right!! We do not have all the facts to make a decision as to why situations happens to us and Job. Only a wise God knows the entire situation of everyone. Our tongues should be a blessing and not a cure to everyone. We will be held responsible and accountable for even our thoughts. May God have mercy on us. What a lesson for us all?
I really have been enjoying all the thoughts from the lesson today - when I think of what Eliphaz said to Job, the Bible verse that says; Judge not that ye be not judged, comes to mind.
Instead of seeking to explain away a person's spiritual experience, especially when we really DON'T KNOW, we should make ourselves physically and emotionally available by being compassionate, empathetic, loving, helpful, kind, and supportive. The only time we should open our mouths should be to pray and to let the person know we're there as a shoulder when needed.
I just wanted to mention the vision that Eliphaz had. It was not of God although it said some things that were true like, "‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?." And we are like clay and were made from dust where we will one day return. However, there is no mention of God's love and mercy. In fact, God sounds like a cruel tyrant who will crush the sinner. This is not the God who said in Ezekiel 33:11: ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!" The words of this spirit reminded me of the words of the spirit masquerading as the prophet Samuel whose message was harsh and discouraging. Nothing like the real Samuel who mourned so long for Saul that God had to ask him, how long was he going to mourn for the king? This message from the spirit which Eliphaz related to Job was filled with despair and discouragement and had not Job's faith in God been strong, he could have turned away from Him, thinking what was the use?
When someone is suffering, we should comfort them instead of condemning or chastising them. Eliphaz did much better in comforting Job when he was sitting with him, not saying anything. Just being there was enough. There are times to speak and times to remain silent. Eliphaz fared better when he was silent. When he spoke, he said things to Job that were not true. Job never once claimed that he was more righteous or pure than God. All Job did was talk about how he wished he were dead--death was better than suffering. And Eliphaz was wrong when he said that the innocent don't perish or the upright cut off. Abel was innocent and upright but he was murdered.
The spirit said something very interesting. It said, "If He charges His angels with error, How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before a moth?" The angels didn't commit error. They rebelled. They joined Lucifer in his rebellion and fought against Jesus and His angels. Their rebellion got them thrown out of heaven. God is a loving God but He is also a just God and when angels and people persist in disobedience and rebellion against Him, He had no choice but to judge them.
I think in this instance, Satan was working through Eliphaz to turn Job away from God. He was still trying to get Job to curse God.
Job's friends went with good intentions toward Job but because of their own self righteousness they kept their focus on how they see God and his righteousness. Instead of showing humanity and even suggesting practical ways of helping Job to relieve his condition, they chose to be the pious Christians. Many Christians believe (and in this case Job's friends) that suppressing anguish and pain is acceptable to God. In their eyes Job's outburst was an embarrassment. Job42:7 here God accused Job's friends
Of speaking wrongly about him.We need to be careful when we try to defend God with our own interpretation.
"...even if we are right on a position, we might not be expressing it in the most helpful and redeeming way..."
This is very true, I am thinking as a mother, teaching my little ones the right thing but I may not be expressing it in the most helpful and redeeming way. Our position sometimes can miss the point 🙁
I am interested in the night visions as describe by Eliphaz. What do you think was the purpose of telling that to Job? Was this a dream that Eliphaz had, or was it something that woke him up? Was the voice from God, in verses 17,18,19 ? Specifically verse 18. Eliphaz was frighten our of his skin, so to speak, verses 14,15,16. I do not believe it was sinister, but some other thoughts could be interesting.
Job 4:12-18 is a very difficult passage,and I do not claim to give all the answers. However, Verse 16 seems to give a clue to understand the vision Eliphaz has experienced. Something like a gentle wind (a breeze - for want of words to express the idea - is experessed in the term "demamah". After that expession Eliphaz reports: "And a voice I heard." The word "demamah" occurs only three times (including Job 4:16). In Psalm 107:29 it is said, God made the storm still(demamah). And in 1 Kings 19:12 Elija says, God was not in the storm,not in the fire, but then he heard (mostly so translated) a still small voice (demamah). God had appeared to Elijah opening up a conversation.
So Eliphaz seems to refer to his own experience where God had appeared to him in a night vision. The message was: "Should a man be more righteous than God?
God was saying that He alone is righteous, pure and infallible. Eliphaz seems to defend the righteousness, blamelessness and infallibility of God, inasmuch as Iob had complained as to why Life is given to those living in utter misery who desire death more then anything else (Job 3:20).
What God says in the vision is true but the application to Job seems to be beside the point. In his utter misery Iob is asking questions about situations he does not understand. In defending the righteousness of God, Eliphaz is blaming Iob for his own misery (Job 4:8). And that is a crushing argument for someone in such a deep misery.
All will have to wait for the cross in order to have a clear revelation of God`s righteousmess and mercy and still futher to the ultimate consummation of the plan of salvation to see God`s righteousness and mery fully revealed in a new creation.
Winfried Stolpmann
We need to bear in mind that God declared confidence in Job. It is this declaration that gave rise to the dramatic incidents of the story of Job. The story is about the ongoing conflict between God and Satan. In this story Satan sought to prove God a liar by launching vicious attacks against an innocent man. In executing his nefarious purposes the devil used Job's friends. Friends, satan is a relentless enemy that will stop at nothing to achieve his diabolical schemes of darkness.
His modus operandi is mixing truth with mystifying false opinion,of presenting distorted pictures of God. In this regard we find Eliphaz relating a vision he had that came secretly and whispered in his ear during the dead of night making the hair of his body stand on end! This spirit told him that man cannot be more righteous than God. True. Indeed the devil is capable of telling the truth. But almost invariably he mixes it with lies. He goes on to instigate Eliphaz to say that God " ' "puts no trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. How much more those who dwell in houses of clay...!"'" (Job 4:18, 19, NAS).
You may be tempted to ask, what proof is there that this vision was from God? Edouard Dhorme says it's "needless to ask whether he [Eliphaz] really experienced this vision or whether he imagines it for the purposes of his argument." For me satan is a liar period. Eliphaz's "revelation" came into the story to bolster Satan's stance and teach a lie about God. We know that there are people of integrity who suffer innocently. Case in point is Job, Jesus, etc who became special objects of Satan's hatred and abuse. But Job sought for God and Jesus cried to His Father from the cross at times of incomprehensible and excruciating pain. Even at that time by faith, they clung to the belief that God was there and He was still their God!