Job 5-8: Learning to lovingly ‘disagree’ with God

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This is a quick survey of the book of Job. Today we will start with chapter 5 as we continue to follow Eliphaz the Temanite’s vision, which starts in chapter 4. 

Eliphaz the Temanite tells ‘Iyyob, “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.” Eliphaz has told us that ‘Iyyob was a person who helped the poor defended the downtrodden and showed compassion. ‘Iyyob was the most powerful of the 12 dukes of Edom. He was the great-grandson of Esau. 

Eliphaz’s worldview is not unique to himself. ‘Iyyob eventually develops an anger and bitterness against God. There are those who blame God for everything. They are bitter against God because God brought the turmoil in their lives, and they rebel against God. 

Eliphaz does not believe ‘Iyyob is being rebellious but he is trying to diagnose ‘Iyyob’s problem. Each one of these three friends of ‘Iyyob have three different opinions about the source of ‘Iyyob’s distress.

Eliphaz tells ‘Iyyob that he would seek God if he was in ‘Iyyob’s shoe and that God would hear him but God is not hearing ‘Iyyob because ‘Iyyob is not seeking God. Yet we know from the beginning of the chapter that ‘Iyyob did seek God and asked God to explain to him why he is suffering these things. 

How did ‘Iyyob respond to Eliphaz, his best friend?:

“Oh that my grief were actually weighed and laid in the balances together with my calamity! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. Oh that my request might come to pass, and that God would grant my longing! Would that God were willing to crush me, that He would loose His hand and cut me off! What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?” (Job 6:2-4, 8-9, 11)

If someone has been “cursed” by God, what business is it of ours to judge them? This is a correction of how we should look at our sufferings, the sufferings of our acquaintances and even our enemies. Let God do what He is going to do. Someones we have the idea that God only disciplines those who are like us and those who are not like us, He punishes but that is not true. When we sit in judgement, we allow our brains to make a judgement against someone and then we act how our preconceived judgement propels us to act. We need to take power over those kind of thoughts and the book of ‘Iyyob shows us how to do that.

‘Iyyob says that Eliphaz is accusing him falsely:

“Teach me, and I will be silent; and show me how I have erred. How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove? Do you intend to reprove my words, when the words of one in despair belong to the wind?” (Job 6:24-26)

Eliphaz is rebuking ‘Iyyob’s feelings and ‘Iyyob’s words but Eliphaz hasn’t proven that any of ‘Iyyob’s actions were in error. Eliphaz is basically kicking a man when he’s down with his harsh words. 

Does God crush the righteous? Yes, sometimes He does. Do you have a heart for God? The book of Psalms reveals His heart. He gives good things to the just and the unjust. He hears the prayers of those who know His ways and those who act in ignorance. 

‘Iyyob was so miserable at this point, so self-centered that he was near the point of suicide. He knew he could not get away from God, even if he committed suicide. He reminds God in ‘Iyyob 7:16, “I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.” He also asks God why He allow Satan to “guard” over him when he says in Job 7:12, “Am I the sea, or the sea monster, that You set a guard over me?” 

‘Iyyob goes on to ask God in Job 7:20, “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?” He even asks God to take away his sinful inclination and God appears to say, “No.”

“Why then ado You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; and You will seek me, but I will not be.” (Job 7:21)

God doesn’t take away our iniquity, we must give it up ourselves. God told Cain that sin was at his door and he had to overcome it. God created us to fight it ourselves. He will help us but He will not do it all Himself. God is beyond us. 

‘Iyyob is correct, we read in the first chapter that God did target ‘Iyyob, allowing Satan to torment him. 

In Job 8, the second friend speaks up. His name is Bildad the Shuhite, and he is a descendant of Abraham through his second wife, Keturah, the woman Abraham married after Sarah died. 

Bildad accused ‘Iyyob’s sons of iniquity and said that God killed them because of their sin:

“If you are pure and upright, surely now He would rouse Himself for you and restore your righteous estate. Though your beginning was insignificant, yet your end will increase greatly.” (Job 8:6)

We know from the beginning of the chapter that the sins of the sons had nothing whatsoever to do with their death. God Himself said that ‘Iyyob was righteous and upright, yet Bildad was judging ‘Iyyob as an impure, unrighteous man. 

Do you relate to any of these men? One of these friends is very hostile and blunt in his criticisms.

There are those who judge their fellow Christians with a venom and hostility they would never say to a nonbeliever in a similar situation. 

This book gives us an idea of how God views us. There are those who say that God never punishes a righteous man, ‘Iyyob proves that is not true. There are times when God destroys the righteous and the unrighteous, the unwise and the wise. 

At the end, God says that what ‘Iyyob said about him was correct and what these friends said about God was wrong. These friends criticisms seem correct by our worldly understanding but God tells us otherwise. 

When we have a disagreement with someone, we should try to see it from their point of view. As we read the Book of ‘Iyyob, we learn more and more about how ‘Iyyob really thinks. Each of these friends have a different paradigm through which they are viewing ‘Iyyob’s current situation. They are not out to destroy ‘Iyyob, they just want to help ‘Iyyob and help him “see the light” but what kind of light were they showing ‘Iyyob?

When someone “disagrees” with God, we should encourage them to read the book of Job. ‘Iyyob had to learn something about God. God Himself tells us that ‘Iyyob had integrity, fortitude and was a righteous man, yet ‘Iyyob still have a lesson to learn. God is trying to mould ‘Iyyob into His image. That is the point of all this. We read the Book of ‘Iyyob and wonder if we have to go through this. God wants ‘Iyyob to look at the world through His eyes, not the eyes of his friends or even his own eyes. 

Most believers long to speak with God face to face. Moses did. If you pray to God you willing to hear what He has to say in response, you will hear Him and have a fulfilling relationship.

Speaker: Richard Agee. Summary: Tammy.