Friday: Further Thought – The Curse Causeless?
Further Thought: As we have seen, Eliphaz was not without sympathy for Job. It’s just that his sympathy took second place to what he saw as his need to defend the character of God. After all, Job was suffering terribly, and God is just; therefore, Job must have done something to deserve what happened to him. That’s what God’s justice is all about, Eliphaz concluded. Therefore, Job was wrong in his complaining.
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Of course, God is just. But that doesn’t automatically mean that we will see His justice made manifest in every situation that happens in this fallen world. The fact is, we don’t. Justice and judgment will come, but not necessarily now (Rev. 20:12). Part of what it means to live by faith is to trust God that the justice so lacking here will one day be revealed and made manifest.
What we see with Eliphaz also appears in the attitude of some of the scribes and Pharisees toward Jesus. These men were so caught up in their desire to be “faithful” and religious that their anger at the Lord’s Sabbath healings (see Matthew 12) trumped what should have been their happiness that the sick had been healed and had had their suffering relieved. No matter how specific Christ’s words were in the following text, the principle is one that we who love God and who are jealous for Him must always remember: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matt. 23:23).
Discussion Questions:
- How can we know the difference between the time someone needs compassion and sympathy and when a person needs lecturing and maybe even rebuke? Why would it generally be better to err on the side of compassion and sympathy when dealing with those who are suffering, even through their own sins and misdeeds?
- Read again Eliphaz’s words to Job in chapters 4 and 5. In what situation might those words have been more appropriate than they were here?
- Suppose you had been a friend of Job’s and had gone to see him as he sat on the pile of ashes. What would you have said to him, and why? If that had been you in his place, what would you want people to say to you?
(11)
would wish people to comfort me
It is hard to comfort you if you don't share what concerns you. Just be assured that God loves you. 🙂
I think when someone is sitting on ashes full of wounds and you know that he/she lost his/her family, they don't need to share the obvious. What will come next is about who you are when you are in front of someone that needs a lot of comfort. Will you be judgemental? Or will you just cry and reveal how you are hurting too when someone is hurt and in terrible situation.... a feeling we called empathy.
I appreciate that thought Maggie.
I wonder too about Job's physical condition. The NKJV reads that Job had "painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." (Job 2:7.) It is suggested in Strong's Dictionary that the Hebrew word, translated "boils", can actually mean something like "ulcers". And this would make sense to me, because Job says in one place that "my skin grows black and falls from me" (Job 30:30). I am sure that Job was not a black man naturally, but Job's skin had become a lot darker, and it was broken and falling from him. I think he would have smelt terrible. From a "medical missionary" perspective, his friends might have first focused on his physical comfort and cares. Physically, his whole appearance would have cried out for physical relief. I think that his friends were shocked to see him in the terrible physical state that he was in... perhaps it was beyond their comprehension, and they simply could not find any way to comfort or help him physically.
Praying for you my friend......
Lovemore I would speak a brief word to you. Dangers, debaters, and opposition, [in whatever form these might have come] may have been your lot for years now, but the tree that stands alone (or with a few others) must send its roots deep. The tree with shallow roots will not stand long on the high, wind-swept, hill. Rejoice with a solemn joy my brother. Stand for what is right. Enter deep into God's rest.
I would want to hear that "God's goodness will get me through."
Unless I'm wrong, I believe Lovemore is answering discussion question #3 when he(?) writes; "would wish...".
Ah, yes, I'm sure you're right. 🙂
Then we need to ask the question; How would you like people to comfort you?
At one stage of my life I was carted off to hospital in an ambulance and in severe pain. It took a week for the medical team to find out what was wrong with me. I received visits from several people in that time. Some wanted to tell me what I was missing by being in hospital; some wanted to quiz me about what I thought was wrong; some thought they knew what was wrong; some wanted to give me a bible study on pain and suffering. One person came every day and sat with me. She read a book silently and squeezed my hand when she knew the pain was bad. That person was Carmel, my wife. For once she was lost for words but made the effort just to be with me. That was the comfort I appreciated the most.
Too many of us want to explain, describe, help, when just being there is all you really need to give. That is remarkably similar to what God did for Job!
And just is case some of you want to know the end of the story, the Doctors discovered I had a blocked bowel resulting from a birth defect. They operated found the problem and fixed me up very quickly after that.
You might correctly assume each visitor had the best intentions. So the answer we each need to search for is "how to know WHAT is truly best in each case".
The answer seems to be that we possess Divine Wisdom, which is imparted to those having the mind of Christ, which was with a "meek and lowly" heart. With all selfishness purged from us, and the Wisdom promised, we can treat others as Jesus did, which at times included solemn rebuke, though it seems rare from Him.
Remember, the God who brought the manna and water to Israel, also brought them the Chaldeans. We need the Divine balance in our understanding towards our fellow man if we would truly help them. Our commission seems more focused on the "manna and water", while God will deal with the "Chaldeans".
Back to question one. I do believe that it is best to offer sympathy, compassion, hope, faith, and most of all love. 1 Corinthians 13:13. Paul is emphatic about being judgemental. Romans 2:1. I don't think any one deserves lecturing or rebuke that are in Jobs situation. Lecturing is reserved for the near death situation, due to alcohol, drugs, and careless lifestyle, after sobering up. And then in a loving manner, without resentment. But be emphatic about it. We are not to discipline when we are angry, or resentful.
Happy Sabbath