With Friends Like These…

1. The words of Job’s friends are accurately recorded, but their words may not be accurate to the truth.

2. Eliphaz is immediately defensive.

3. Some study theology to KNOW God; others study theology to CONTROL God.

Job 4:3-6 (NLT) – [3] “In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak. [4] Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees. [5] But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. [6] Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?”

4. Eliphaz rebukes Job.

5. Our hope should never be in our righteousness but in God’s mercy.

Titus 3:3-7 (NIV) – [3] At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. [4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. [6] He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV) – [11] For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Job 4:7-9 (NIV) – [7] “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? [8] As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. [9] At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish.

6. Eliphaz pontificates about God.

Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV) – [7] Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [8] The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

7. Current circumstances are not always an indicator of past transgressions.

Job 4:12-21 (NIV) – [12] “A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it. [13] Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on men, [14] fear and trembling seized me and made all my bones shake. [15] A spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body stood on end. [16] It stopped, but I could not tell what it was. A form stood before my eyes, and I heard a hushed voice: [17] ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker? [18] If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, [19] how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth! [20] Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish forever. [21] Are not the cords of their tent pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’

8. Eliphaz speaks for Satan.

1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) – [1] Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

9. Not every voice we hear is from God.

10. God will never contradict His Word or His character.