Podcast 18, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 4”

Job’s three friends have been sitting silent for a week. They are Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They are good men who have come to comfort him, but instead, in ignorance, they criticize and accuse Job of secret sins. They want to know why God is punishing Job. All three attribute the cause of Job’s suffering to some hidden sins. This philosophy is echoed even during Christ’s day.

John 9:1-3

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Christ’s answer must make us all pause before we pass judgment or jump to conclusions. We know, for example, that laws are in play. The body is often plagued with health issues due to unwise health habits. Just as bad investments may cause bankruptcy, unwise behavior may cause disease, accident, and death. The theme is a common one: Why do bad things happen to good people? Christ’s answer is interesting. His blindness was not because of anyone sins. God allowed his blindness “that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Neither has Job sinned. The primary message of the story of Job appears to be that, like Job, we must learn patience in suffering. Patience will give even greater rewards both in this life and the next. 

 Eliphaz is the first to accuse Job. 

Job 4:1-8

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?

 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Eliphaz is directly accusing Job of committing sin with the implication that he needs to repent. If he were righteous these calamities would not have happened to him.  It is a philosophy held by many that the wicked are punished and the righteous are spared. Being punished is proof of their wickedness. Is that fair? What should we make of Matthew 5:45

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:

for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,

and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” 

Malachi addresses the same issue with tremendous clarity.

Malachi 3:13-18

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16  Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.