Good Guys and Bad Guys

Read Job 3:1–14:22

1. Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job: . . .
8. “My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.
9. A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger.
10. The lion roars and the wild cat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.
11. The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered.
12. This truth was given to me in secret, as though whispered in my ear.
13. It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep.
14. Fear gripped me, and my bones trembled.
15. A spirit swept past my face, and my hair stood on end.
16. The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape. There was a form before my eyes. In the silence I heard a voice say,
17. ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’” Job 4:1, 8-17

In any personal struggle or tragedy, more advice will come your way than you need or want. Some of it is helpful, but much of it is hurtful.

In this reading, Job receives the latter kind of advice—hurtful. In this first round of discussion between Job and his friends, the friends begin by gently explaining their belief that Job must have sinned to bring so much pain on himself. Job doesn’t think so. Read and see who’s right.

There are a lot of good points in this passage: despairing in suffering (Job); “messages from God” that aren’t (Eliphaz); how to benefit from pain (Eliphaz); being slow to give advice to people who are upset (Job); a lasting source of security (Job); the effects of long-term suffering on our emotional state (Job); insensitivity (Zophar); and hope in life after death (Job).

Part of what Eliphaz said in Job 4:7-8 is true, and part is false. It is true that those who promote sin and trouble eventually will be punished; it is false that good and innocent people never suffer.

Because we live in a fallen world, those who love God and obey his commands are not necessarily immune to suffering. Although suffering is not a pleasant experience, we should try to have a joyful attitude when we go through it, knowing that it will be used by God to transform our character to be more like Christ (see James 1:2-4). In addition, we should look at suffering as a test of our faithfulness to Christ, and we should strive to rely on his grace to pull us through these difficult times.

If you are struggling with a painful illness or sorrow, don’t be quick to blame yourself for your suffering. Instead, rely on God and his goodness. Ask him to teach you and to lead you through it.