With Friends Like This ...

Read Job 4:1-11

With Friends Like This

Here he sits, scraping his sores with broken pieces of trashed cups and pots. Do you feel like your alone in your time of trial? Do you feel as though nobody could possibly be able to identify with you ....?

Job’s 3 friends have been with him for seven days and seven nights - the traditional period of mourning for the dead. For this entire time, nobody has said a word. One is rendered speechless in the face of such unimaginable suffering as they see right before them.

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Finally, in chapter 3, Job opens his mouth to break the long silence. He cried out with a curse and a lament - that’s chapter 3. He curses the day he was born AND the night he was conceived. Then he laments. Laments this life of his - and its unrelenting pain.

We left Job, last week, crying out to God. He is on the outside of the walls of the city he once was the leader of. On the outskirts of the city sitting - in the garbage dump, on a pile of ashes, smoke of burning garbage, wafting into the air all around him - the stench of everyone’s refuse, surrounding him. The greatest man in his world, now on the same level as a peasant leper, ostracized from society, forced outside of the city to eke out an existence in the refuse of what everyone else throws away ......

Job has spewed his heart. “Curse the day I was born”! “Curse the day I died!” Friends have been with him for a week already - have been silent. Now after hearing Job’s emotions out loud - they feel like they have to respond.

Here he sits, scraping his sores with broken pieces of trashed cups and pots. Do you feel like your alone in your time of trial? Do you feel as though nobody could possibly be able to identify with you ....?

The text of Job between chapters 4 and 27, is all speeches between Job and his friends. Job has three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. And just a matter of trivia here: Bildad just happens to be the shortest person in the entire BIble. refers to him as Bildad the Shuhite.

There are three cycles of speeches. Eliphaz speaks and Job replies; Bildad speaks and Job responds; Zophar speaks and Job responds. There is a second cycle like that and then a third, shorter one.

Job’s 3 friends have been with him for seven days and seven nights - the traditional period of mourning for the dead. For this entire time, nobody has said a word. One is rendered speechless in the face of such unimaginable suffering as they see right before them.

Chapter 4 begins with the first speech. It is Eliphaz. . E - goes first, probably because he is the oldest of the friends. He is a grey headed man, according to chapter 15:9-10, older than Job's father. He is the most profound, the gentlest - at least at the beginning. He seems to be the all around nicest friend. And he is someone who cares about God - recognizes that God is a HOLY GOD - and wants to make sure everyone understands the holiness of God. ((((In many ways, he is like us here. See if you get what I mean as we explore his speech)))).

Finally, in chapter 3, Job opens his mouth to break the long silence. He cried out with a curse and a lament - that’s chapter 3. He curses the day he was born AND the night he was conceived. Then he laments. Laments this life of his - and its unrelenting pain.

Chapters 4-5, make up the speech of Eliphaz

Job has spewed his heart. “Curse the day I was born”! “Curse the day I was conceived!” Friends have come to find him - have been with him for a week already - have been silent. Now after hearing Job’s emotions out loud - they feel like they have to respond.

6-7 Job's response.

The text of Job between chapters 4 and 27, is all speeches between Job and his friends. Job has three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. And just a matter of trivia here: Bildad just happens to be the shortest person in the entire BIble.

Eliphaz begins gently - see his opening words in v. 2, “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? … (although, he doesn’t really give Job much of a choice. What’s the suffering man going to say? ‘No - you’ve been silent for 7 days - just keep your mouth shut?’ He probably should have, but not really an option).

refers to him as Bildad the Shuhite.

Eliphaz recognizes that Job has been a godly man all his life and HE has been on the helping side when others were suffering. Verse 3, “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. (4) Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.”

There are three cycles of speeches. Eliphaz speaks and Job replies; Bildad speaks and Job responds; Zophar speaks and Job responds. There is a second cycle like that and then a third, shorter one.

“You are a good man, Job - you’ve been on the helping side of human suffering; now you are on the victim side. So let me help you with MY words.”

Chapter 4 begins with the first speech. It is Eliphaz. . E - goes first, probably because he is the oldest of the friends. He is a grey headed man, according to chapter 15:9-10, older than Job's father. He is the most profound, the gentlest - at least at the beginning. He seems to be the all around nicest friend. And he is someone who cares about God - recognizes that God is a HOLY GOD - and wants to make sure everyone understands the holiness of God. ((((In many ways, he is like us. See if you get what I mean as we explore his speech)))).

But, after pumping Job’s tires, Eliphaz gets straight to the point. Verse 7,

Chapters 4-5, make up the speech of Eliphaz

Verse 7, “Remember: who that was innocent, ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?” Verse 8, “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

(how do you counter a person who claims for what he says that 'God told me'?). Be very careful when you start talking to someone by saying, “The Lord told me to give you this message”. Who says that it was the Lord Who gave you this message? Please don’t bother coming to counsel me and tell me that “God told me this ...”, unless you are about to quote Scripture .... IN CONTEXT. Don’t trust any word from God unless it is the INFALLIBLE, INERRANT, written Word of God.

6-7 Job's response.

“God told me THIS about you, Job.”

1 THE FRIEND’S COUNSEL, chapters 4-5

Verse 7, “Remember: who that was innocent, ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?” Verse 8, “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

Eliphaz begins gently - see his opening words in v. 2, “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? … (although, he doesn’t really give Job much of a choice. What’s the suffering man going to say? ‘No - you’ve been silent for 7 days - just keep your mouth shut?’ He probably should have, but not really an option).

Ah, there it is - in capsule form - “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

Eliphaz recognizes that Job has been a godly man all his life and HE has been on the helping side when others were suffering. Verse 3, “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. (4) Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.”

In other words, “You reap what you sow, man”.

“You are a good man, Job - you’ve been on the helping side of human suffering; now you are on the victim side. So let me help you with MY words.”

(9) By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.”

But, after pumping Job’s tires, Eliphaz gets straight to the point.

This friend is long-winded in his speeches - he’s a preacher and is long winded as preachers can SOMETIMES be. But this is the HEART of what Eliphaz is trying to get across -

The fact that Job is experiencing the suffering he’s enduring right now. The fact that he’s lost his business, lost all of his money, his retirement plan … The fact that all 10 of his children are dead .... and now, that he is in the grip of this excruciating physical condition - wasting away on the road to impending death .... the fact that he is HERE -

Is absolutely because he is NOT innocent … because he has obviously plowed and sowed iniquity … that’s why he’s harvesting a crop of trouble and heartache now. “It’s all clear”. That’s what Eliphaz is saying.

You reap what you sow, you get out what you put in … it IS that way; it is ALWAYS that way … and it is never ANYTHING BUT that way in this world. Zero exceptions.

Instant, Divine Retribution - payment for sins committed.

That’s just the way it is. Eliphaz goes so far as to claim heavenly inspiration for his speeches Verse 12 - 16 - - - “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it. Amid thoughts from visions of the night .... v. 15, ‘A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. It stood still but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice ...” So everything he is about to say now carries the weight of Divine Revelation: “This is what God told me for you. If you don’t like the message - take it up with Him, not me!”

(how do you counter a person who claims for what he says that 'God told me'?). Be very careful when you start talking to someone by saying, “The Lord told me to give you this message”. Who says that it was the Lord Who gave you this message? Please don’t bother coming to counsel me and tell me that “God told me this ...”, unless you are about to quote Scripture .... IN CONTEXT. Don’t trust any word from God unless it is the INFALLIBLE, INERRANT, written Word of God.

“God told me THIS about you, Job.”

E knows EXACTLY why J is suffering. The universe - cosmos, is a cosmos of justice. Things happen a certain way always - there is a law at work, set in place by God - and things always operate according to that law ....

E knows EXACTLY why J is suffering. The universe - cosmos, is a cosmos of justice. Things happen a certain way always - there is a law and things always operate according to that law ....

Verse 17, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” The answer is, of course, no.

Verse 7, “Remember: who that was innocent, ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?” Verse 8, “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

Eliphaz is a theological conservative: believes in the holiness of God, believes that there is a sin problem in the human race, that sin must be judged. We would completely agree with Eliphaz - The rest of the Bible agrees with him. , “There is no one righteous not even one”; 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Verse 17, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” The answer is, of course, no. We would completely agree with Eliphaz - The rest of the Bible agrees with him. , “There is no one righteous not even one”; 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

So can you, can anyone be right with God by their own good behavior? No, of course not!

Look down at chapter 5, verses 6-7, “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, (7) but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

“Trouble and suffering don’t come from nowhere - human beings are born to trouble because every single human being is born a sinner!” You can call it God’s payback for wrong; you can call it Fatherly discipline … call it what you want - but you get what you deserve. There are no accidents.

KARMA ..... you get whatever is owed to you. So somewhere along the line - Job has sinned. He has brought this suffering upon himself. Eliphaz says much more, but that’s the essence of his words.

Ah, here’s his counsel - in capsule form. This friend is long-winded in his speeches - he’s a preacher and is long winded as preachers can SOMETIMES be. But this is the HEART of what Eliphaz is trying to get across - - “Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.”

erses 7-8 - Gets right to the point: The innocent don't perish ... you reap what you sow. So, one way or another - the answer to J's predicament is that he is reaping what he has sown.

In other words, “You reap what you sow, man”.

When John Calvin preached a series of sermons on the book of Job he said that these friends of Job, ‘only have one song and they sing it to death.’

KARMA ..... you get whatever is owed to you. So somewhere along the line - Job has sinned. He has brought this suffering upon himself.

VERSE 9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.”

What do we make of this? Remember - Job has lost all of his children, all of his wealth and now he is losing his health. So this isn’t exactly the most sympathetic thing to say, right now - no matter how true it is. But is it true? Is Eliphaz right?

The fact that Job is experiencing the suffering he’s enduring right now. The fact that he’s lost his business, lost all of his money, his retirement plan … The fact that all 10 of his children are dead .... He has lost literally EVERYTHING and now, he is in the grip of this excruciating physical condition - wasting away on the road to impending death .... the fact that he is HERE -

What do we make of this? Remember - Job has lost all of his children, all of his wealth and now he is losing his health. So this isn’t exactly the most sympathetic thing to say, right now - no matter how true it is. But is it true? Is Eliphaz right?

Is absolutely because he is NOT innocent … because he has obviously plowed and sowed iniquity … that’s why he’s harvesting a crop of trouble and heartache now. “It’s all clear”. That’s what Eliphaz is saying.

Well, this statement is partly true - it is in the Bible: Galatians - 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever You reap what you sow”

You reap what you sow, you get out what you put in … it IS that way; it is ALWAYS that way … and it is never ANYTHING BUT that way in this world. Zero exceptions.

There is a law of cause and effect that generally operates in the universe. We teach our kids that, from the time they can understand - there are consequences for the things we do.

Quick, Divine Retribution - payment for sins committed.

And we believe that God operates according to the same principle. Remember Uzzah in . The ark of the covenant has been in the hands of the Philistines. The LORD delivered the Philistine army into David’s hand and the first thing this man after God’s own heart does - is to to say, “We need to bring the ark back to its rightful home - with God’s people.”

The ark is on a cart, heading back to Jerusalem - - everything’s going along fine until the cart hits a pothole in the road, the ark starts to topple. It’s going to fall. This is the ark of the covenant of God - this ark is the symbolic place of God’s presence - living with His people. This is the most holy physical item in the world in David’s day … Uzzah cares - - he’s not going to let it hit the dirt .... so he reaches out his hand to steady it before it falls .... And GOD STRIKES UZZAH DEAD.

That’s a hard thing to read. There are numerous rules that were broken on that day - the ark should never have been on a cart. And the dirt on the ground is far less polluted than sinful human hands. Uzzah should not have touched the ark. And God killed him.

But that’s OT, you say. We are NT Christians. So many people think that the OT God had a bad temper, He was a grouch. Oh, but God in the NT - He is all about love - — as if there are two different Gods in the Bible. There aren’t. There’s only one. But lets look at the NT. How about Acts chapter 5 - When a husband and wife in the early church sell a piece of property. It was a time of need and poverty and persecution and people in the church were keeping their things in common - Barnabas sells off some property and brings the proceeds in for the apostles to distribute. Ananias and Saphira want in on the glory, but they don’t want to pay the full price - so they sell some property and bring money into the apostles. But unlike Barnabas, they don’t bring it all in. That’s not a problem. It was their property - they can do what they want with it. Oh, but they say that they’ve brought all the money in. It’s what we would call, ‘A little white lie’. Is lying a sin? Sure it is. But on the scale of sins, on the burn-o-meter, judging the earned heat of hellfire from warm summer day to blazing - most people would have this couple’s sin pretty low on the list. But God didn’t. They lied to the Holy Spirit and God struck them both dead - one after the other, in a matter of minutes.

This is the Church with the apostolic gifts, in the shadow of the resurrection and Pentecost. Here is God striking people dead for not filling out their paperwork properly over a piece of real estate.

Paul - in - warns people to come carefully to the Lord's table - - some in Corinth are sick, some have died - as a visitation of God: God did this. He came in His holiness to judge sin.

Instant retribution. Does God do that? Yes He does - sometimes. Sometimes He delays His judgment.

- - "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness of men ....". And we will all, every last one of us, stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account for every word, every act, every entertained thought. It is appointed unto man once to die and then face the judgment. That day is coming. And sometimes, God steps in, right now.

That’s just the way it is. Eliphaz goes so far as to claim heavenly inspiration for his speeches. Verse 12 - 16 - - - “Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it. Amid thoughts from visions of the night .... v. 15, ‘A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up. It stood still but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice ...”. So everything he is about to say now carries the weight of Divine Revelation: “This is what God told me for you. If you don’t like the message - take it up with Him, not me!”

The reason for suffering in the universe is because of sin - - God's wrath against sin. It is the reflex of His holiness against sin.

(By the way - how do you counter a person who claims for what he says that 'God told me'?). Be very careful when you start talking to someone by saying, “The Lord told me to give you this message”. Please don’t bother coming to counsel me and tell me that “God told me this ...”, unless you are about to quote Scripture .... IN CONTEXT. Don’t trust any word from God unless it is the INFALLIBLE, INERRANT, written Word of God. Who says that it was the Lord Who gave you this message?

A non-Xian worldview doesn't accept this, but we, as Xians believe this.

“God told me THIS about you, Job.”

New Testament example - - - - - Ananias and Sapphira - early church. They tell a 'white lie' about the value of a piece of real estate. Not a serious sin in our eyes. BUt God strikes one and then another .... dead.

I know EXACTLY why you’re suffering. The universe - cosmos, is a place of justice. Things happen a certain way always - there is a law at work, set in place by God - and things always operate according to that law.

This is the Church with the apostolic gifts, in the shadow of the resurrection and Pentecost. Here is God striking people dead for not filling out their paperwork properly over a piece of real estate.

Verse 17, “Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” The answer is, of course, no.

A non-Xian worldview doesn't accept this, but we, as Xians believe this.

Eliphaz is a theological conservative: believes in the holiness of God, believes that there is a sin problem in the human race, that sin must be judged. We would completely agree with Eliphaz - The rest of the Bible agrees with him.

He is partly right.

, “There is no one righteous not even one”; 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

A non-Xian worldview doesn't accept this, but we, as Xians believe this.

So can you, can anyone be right with God by their own good behavior? No, of course not!

This is Eliphaz' point.

Look down at chapter 5, verses 6-7, “For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, (7) but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

This is Eliphaz' point.

He is partly right.

Oh, but Eliphaz is very wrong - here. Job is NOT being punished for his sins. God says so Himself. “Have you considered My servant Job?”, He asks the Satan. “He is blameless and upright - fears God and turns away from evil.” The godliest man on the face of the earth.

Like the man born blind in - - - the man born blind: "Who sinned, him or his parents?" What lies behind the question? Obviously - someone has sinned here - the man, or his parents ... we're not sure who - but someone must have, because suffering comes because of sin.

Jesus' answer: "Neither"! Not saying that the man is sinless, etc. But sin is not the direct cause of this effect. This is part of the purpose of God. God used this man’s suffering to point ..................................................................

Paul - : the THORN in the flesh. 3x he prays that it be taken away. No indication here that it is a punishment from God.

- "The Lord disciplines the one he loves ..."

Here, - - - implication is that J isn't innocent.

It is the explanation for the death of Jesus.

Why did Jesus die? Most important question you can ever ask? He was without sin; had never transgressed any law. Any sinners here? The moment my sin was imputed - credited to Christ’s account - God stepped in with instant punishment. God the Father killed His Son.

“Trouble and suffering don’t come from nowhere - human beings are born to trouble because every single human being is born a sinner!” You can call it God’s payback for wrong; you can call it Fatherly discipline … call it what you want - but you get what you deserve. There are no accidents.

But it’s not always the explanation for your suffering. The reasoning of Eliphaz is not really much different from the reasoning that’s used by those inside Christian circles who tell you that God’s will is for you to not be sick, not be poor - God wants your bank account full and your body healthy … and if

But God is at work in Job’s life. This suffering has nothing to do with Job’s sin.

Not all pain is bad - you put your finger into the fire ....

The wages of sin is death. Sin does pay out its wages - its payment is death. So, why did Jesus die? 2 possible answers: 1) THere is no justice in this world - you can live impeccably and death still gets you because there is no justice

So what Eliphaz is saying is somewhere along the line - Job has sinned. He has brought this suffering upon himself. Eliphaz says much more, but that’s the essence of his words.

2) - The principle of justice: Jesus died because He deserved it. In Luther's words - He was the greatest sinner the world had ever seen.

When John Calvin preached a series of sermons on the book of Job he said that these friends of Job, ‘only have one song and they sing it to death.’

Partly right, but partly WRONG

What do we make of this? Remember - Job has lost all of his children, all of his wealth and now he is losing his health. So this isn’t exactly the most sympathetic thing to say, right now - no matter how true it is. But is it true? Is Eliphaz right?

_____________________________________________________________________

Well, he is partly right - it is in the Bible: Galatians - 6:7-8 - "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever You reap what you sow”

Jesus' answer: "Neither"! Not saying that the man is sinless, etc. But sin is not the direct cause of this effect. This is part of the purpose of God.

There is a law of cause and effect that generally operates in the universe. We teach our kids that, from the time they can understand - there are consequences for the things we do. You run into a busy street and you can get hit. You disrespect mom or dad – and you’ll be in trouble - - - we teach them consequences because we love them – and there are consequences in this world.

Paul - : the THORN in the flesh. 3x he prays that it be taken away. No indication here that it is a punishment from God.

And we believe that God operates according to the same principle. Remember Uzzah in . The ark of the covenant has been in the hands of the Philistines. The LORD delivered the Philistine army into David’s hand and the first thing this man after God’s own heart does - is to to say, “We need to bring the ark back to its rightful home - with God’s people.”

JOB'S RESPONSE: chapters 6-7

- "The Lord disciplines the one he loves ..."

The ark is on a cart, heading back to Jerusalem - - everything’s going along fine until the cart hits a pothole in the road, the ark starts to topple. It’s going to fall. This is the ark of the covenant of God - this ark is the symbolic place of God’s presence - living with His people. This is the most holy physical item in the world in David’s day … Uzzah cares - - he’s not going to let it hit the dirt .... so he reaches out his hand to steady it before it falls .... And GOD STRIKES UZZAH DEAD.

Here, - - - implication is that J isn't innocent.

That’s a hard thing to read. There are numerous rules that were broken on that day - the ark should never have been on a cart. And the dirt on the ground is far less polluted than sinful human hands. Uzzah should not have touched the ark. And God killed him.

JOB'S RESPONSE: chapters 6-7

But that’s OT, you say. We are NT Christians. So many people think that the OT God had a bad temper, He was a grouch. Oh, but God in the NT - He is all about love - — as if there are two different Gods in the Bible. There aren’t. There’s only one. But lets look at the NT. How about Acts chapter 5 - When a husband and wife in the early church sell a piece of property. It was a time of need and poverty and persecution and people in the church were keeping their things in common - Barnabas sells off some property and brings the proceeds in for the apostles to distribute. Ananias and Saphira want in on the glory, but they don’t want to pay the full price - so they sell some property and bring money into the apostles. But unlike Barnabas, they don’t bring it all in. That’s not a problem. It was their property - they can do what they want with it. Oh, but they say that they’ve brought all the money in. It’s what we would call, ‘A little white lie’. Is lying a sin? Sure it is. But on the scale of sins, on the burn-o-meter, judging the earned heat of hellfire from warm summer day to blazing - most people would have this couple’s sin pretty low on the list. But God didn’t. They lied to the Holy Spirit and God struck them both dead - one after the other, in a matter of minutes.

What’s Job’s response? His response comes in chapters 6-7. Says E is like a storm ... a windbag -No help at all.

This is the Church with the apostolic gifts, in the shadow of the resurrection and Pentecost. Here is God striking people dead for not filling out their paperwork properly over a piece of real estate.

... a windbag - he is no help at all.

Chapter 6:2-4 “For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.” What an image. Can you identify?

And he turns to Eliphaz, “What help are you?” Verse 14, “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,

water in the desert -

, “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him ...”. Now does this verse sound familiar? Doesn’t it sound a lot like , “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? The writer to the Hebrews quotes it in : “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? YOu made him for a little while lower than the anges; you have crowned him with glory and honor ...”.

- "why have you made me your mark?" ..... , “Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.”

Paul - in - warns people to come carefully to the Lord's table - - some in Corinth are sick, some have died - as a visitation of God: God did this. He came in His holiness to judge sin.

Almost like a child saying, 'You will miss me when I'm gone" (Illust. - as a kid, wanting to run away from home.)

Instant retribution. Does God do that? Yes He does - sometimes. Sometimes He delays His judgment.

He is taking E's contribution - this simplistic, black and white view of life - no question marks, no gray areas, nothing that he cannot fit into his worldview, into his box: Suffering is always punishment. Period.

- - "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness of men ....". And we will all, every last one of us, stand before the judgment seat of God and give an account for every word, every act, every entertained thought. It is appointed unto man once to die and then face the judgment. That day is coming. And sometimes, God steps in, right now.

Eliphaz and the others are treating God as though He was a blind, impersonal force: you do right - good things happen for you .... you suffer - it’s because you’ve done wrong ...

IT’S KARMA -

Job gets it - - - even though he has no idea the WHY of his sufffering - - He knows the WHO - He knows He is not dealing with a force .... He is dealing with a person. He is dealing with the personal God of the universe

Partly right - there are consequences of sin - eg. a disease contracted from a lifestyle that is contrary to the word of God - you only have yourself to blame. There's sympathy, there's love, there's forgiveness, etc. All of that is true, but it is not legitimate to ask, "How could this happen to me?"

One of the reasons that some Christians suffer from extended times of darkness is the unwillingness to renounce some cherished sin. Jesus and the Apostle Peter and King David all spoke of how unconfessed sin hinders our joy in God. Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” ().

What if you've contracted a disease through a blood transfusion - - then you are innocent.

A non-Xian worldview doesn't accept this, but we, as Xians believe this.

The suffering is the same, the disease is still there - - but the reason is completely different.

Why did Jesus die? Most important question you can ever ask? He was without sin; had never transgressed any law. Any sinners here? The moment my sin was imputed - credited to Christ’s account - God stepped in with instant punishment. God the Father killed His Son.

1. Well-Intentioned counselors can be wrong. Christians can be wrong. Can come in, analyze the situation and be wrong. E is seriously wrong. We know that because God says so. That's the point of the prologue to the book - J is innocent. Godly.

The wages of sin is death. Sin does pay out its wages - its payment is death. So, why did Jesus die? 2 possible answers: 1) THere is no justice in this world - you can live impeccably and death still gets you because there is no justice

2. God's Ways are not our ways. His thoughts not our thoughts. Job is asking the question, “Why”? Does J have an answer to the question 'why?' No. And E hasn't provided it. Nor has Job come to a full understanding of it. He is still stumbling in the shadow.

2) - The principle of justice: Jesus died because He deserved it. In Luther's words - He was the greatest sinner the world had ever seen.

He ends this response - "You'll be sorry when I'm gone" - He's stopped listening to E. He is talking to the Lord now - and he is laying his troubles at His feet.

But it’s not always the explanation for your suffering. The reasoning of Eliphaz is not really much different from the reasoning that’s used by those inside Christian circles who tell you that God’s will is for you to not be sick, not be poor - God wants your bank account full and your body healthy … and if you are not healed, if you are not living in financial abundance - - - it’s because of your SIN – your lack of faith.

Joni Erickson Tada - after her swimming accident. Quadriplegic, formerly active teenager now a prisoner in a body whose arms and legs no longer responded to the commands of her brain.

For some odd reason, however, it comforted me to realize that God did not condemn me for plying him with questions … I didn’t have to worry about offending God with my outbursts - my despair wasn’t going to shock him. God, according to the book of Job is never threatened by our questions. So did I find answers about the deepest, darkest qusestions of life in total paralysis? Just one: And it is enough: “Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God ...

This is Eliphaz' point …. AND He is partly right.

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Oh, but Eliphaz is very wrong - here. Job is NOT being punished for his sins. God says so Himself. “Have you considered My servant Job?”, He asks the Satan. “He is blameless and upright - fears God and turns away from evil.” The godliest man on the face of the earth.

When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God—And Joy Chapter 4: Does Unconfessed Sin Clog Our Joy?

One of the reasons that some people suffer from extended times of darkness is the unwillingness to renounce some cherished sin. Jesus and the Apostle Peter and King David all spoke of how unconfessed sin hinders our joy in God. Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23–24).

Like the man born blind in - : "Who sinned, him or his parents?" What lies behind the question? Obviously - someone has sinned here - the man, or his parents ... we're not sure who - but someone must have, because suffering comes because of sin.

Jesus' answer: "Neither"! Not saying that the man is sinless, etc. But sin is not the direct cause of this effect. This is part of the good purpose of God that nobody can see at the time.

Paul - : the THORN in the flesh. 3x he prays that it be taken away. No indication here that it is a punishment from God.

- "The Lord disciplines the one he loves ..."

Here, in - - - the implication is that J isn't innocent.

It is the explanation for the death of Jesus.

But God is at work in Job’s life. This suffering has nothing to do with Job’s sin.

Partly right, but partly WRONG

2 JOB'S RESPONSE: chapters 6-7

What’s Job’s response? His response comes in chapters 6-7. Let’s see what he thinks of the counsel of Eliphaz. Has it helped to comfort him?

Chapter 6:2-4 “Oh that my vexation were weighted, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words have been rash.”

“Yes, my outburst (in chapter 3) was impulsive - - but this pain! … If you could put all of my suffering on a scale – it would weigh more than all of the sand on all of the seashores of the world”. Can you identify?

Verse 4, “For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.” What an image. What a picture! Living his life, turning from sin, living for pure worship – when the arrows from God’s own bow pierce his flesh – riddle his body through …. And as he tries to put one foot in front of the other and just survive, clinging to God in faith - - the poison from the arrows, is seeping into the very heart of his being.

Can you identify?

Then Job turns to Eliphaz and asks, “What help are you?” Verse 14, “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, (16) which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. (17) When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.”

We get the picture Job is painting, we who live in this corner of the province. In For 3 of the 4 seasons, we get more water falling from the sky, than we know what to do with - - sick of stepping in puddles everywhere you walk, driving the highway – always concerned about hydroplaning through a pool of water, collected on the road. Enough already! But then summer comes, the sun comes out – and just when you could use some of that water – we are told – ‘don’t sprinkle your grass’ – ‘you can’t have campfires’ – because everything is too dry. “Where’s the water when we need it?” Imagine life in the desert of Job’s day. There is nothing more important than water. When the desert rains come – they come big – the water comes down in torrents and fills the wadis – trenches in the wilderness. But in the heat of the summer – for a traveler trying to survive in the oppressive heat – there’s no greater than need for freshwater – and if there’s none when you need it – you will die.

Job, “I am in a hostile, harsh desert of suffering – I need water to refresh me … and you are dry. Thanks for nothing.” May we never be companions like Job had.

Job turns his attention away from Eliphaz and puts his focus back on God, where it belongs. Again, a lesson for the sufferers among us. If you have friends, they will very likely fail you. And you can be consumed with disappointment – anger even, at the people you counted on – they weren’t there for you when you needed them most. But that’s a distraction. God is the One in control. Your issues are with Him. So Job cries out to God - , “What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him ...”. Now does this verse sound familiar? Does this verse sound familiar to you? It should. You probably recognize it from -

, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? The writer to the Hebrews quotes it in

: “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor ...”.

Interesting – Do you get the mood of and – in both cases, the writer is overwhelmed with wonder and awe – That the God of heaven – Almighty God, would care about the likes of me … puny man … that you would pay attention to my life – what a wonder!!

Job’s tone is the exact opposite … God’s attention to his life has become a burden too much to bear:

- "How long will you not look away from me,, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit? (20) If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you? (21) Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity?”

why have you made me your mark?" .....

, “Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.”

Almost like a child saying, 'You will miss me when I'm gone" (Illust. - as a kid, wanting to run away from home.)

Eliphaz counsels the suffering Job with a specific view of God – It’s a simplistic, black and white view of life - no question marks, no gray areas, nothing that he cannot fit into his worldview, into his box: Suffering is always punishment. Period.

Eliphaz and the others are treating God as though He was a blind, impersonal force: you do right - good things happen for you .... you suffer - it’s because you’ve done wrong ... They try to shrink the moral universe of the gracious, all-sovereign Creator God – down into a smaller universe of natural cause and effect …

But that’s not the God of Christianity – that’s another religion. IT’S KARMA -

. Actually, Eliphaz is more describing the Allah of Islam than the God of Christianity. The God of Christianity reveals Himself as a God of holiness …. And LOVE. He will not put up with sin – but He is so much more than a

The Allah of Islam is a solitary being – before there was anything else – there was only him – alone, isolated …. So love is not essential to who He is. And his relationship with human beings definitely cannot be characterized as pursuing love – It is all about submission, obedience and resigning ourselves to his will. Inshala

Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim convert to Jesus Christ, had a "resolutely" Muslim friend named Sahar who was attracted to parts of Christianity but couldn't accept the idea of God becoming a human being. On one occasion she honestly asked, "How can you believe Jesus is God if he was born through the birth canal of a woman and that he had to use the bathroom? Aren't these things beneath God?"

Qureshi affirmed her questions and then asked her one in turn: "Sahar, let's say that you are on your way to a very important ceremony and are dressed in your finest clothes. You are about to arrive just on time, but then you see your daughter drowning in a pool of mud. What would you do? Let her drown and arrive looking dignified, or rescue her but arrive at the ceremony covered in mud?

Her response was very matter of fact, "Of course, I would jump in the mud and save her." Nuancing the question more, Qureshi asked her, "Let's say there were others with you. Would you send someone else to save her, or would you save her yourself?"

She responded, "If she is my daughter, how could I send anyone else? They would not care for her like I do. I would go myself, definitely."

Qureshi said, "If you, being human, love your daughter so much that you are willing to lay aside your dignity to save her, how much more can we expect God, if he is our loving Father, to lay aside his majesty to save us?"

The biblical story of God eventually won Sahar's heart. As Qureshi reported, "The message of God's selfless love had overpowered her, and she could no longer remain a Muslim. She had accepted Jesus as her Savior."

Nabeel wrote about his interaction with Sahar in a book he wrote in 2016. The next year – September,2017, he died – at the age of 34. His widow is walking through the valley of the shadow of Death – trusting in his Savior – knowing that even when nothing makes sense and the pain is almost too much to bear - - - there is a God who loves His children - Nabeel Qureshi, No God But One (Zondervan, 2016), pages 100-101

Job gets it - - - even though he has no idea the WHY of his suffering - - He knows the WHO - He knows He is not dealing with a force .... He is dealing with a person. He is dealing with the personal God of the universe. God is a Person and Job is in RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

And now – he doesn’t understand what’s happening in this relationship. Job is asking the question, “Why”? Does J have an answer to the question 'why?' No. And E hasn't provided it. Nor has Job come to a full understanding of it. He is still stumbling in the shadows.

Joni Erickson Tada - after her swimming accident. Quadriplegic, formerly active teenager now a prisoner in a body whose arms and legs no longer responded to the commands of her brain.

“For some odd reason, however, it comforted me to realize that God did not condemn me for plying him with questions … I didn’t have to worry about offending God with my outbursts - my despair wasn’t going to shock him. God, according to the book of Job is never threatened by our questions. So did I find answers about the deepest, darkest questions of life in total paralysis? Just one:

And it is enough: “Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor”.”

He ends this response - "You'll be sorry when I'm gone" - He's stopped listening to E. He is talking to the Lord now - and he is laying his troubles at His feet.