In Job, chapter 4, we learn more about Eliphaz, Job’s friend. However, instead of encouraging Job in his trials, he started blaming everything he was now going through on some sort of sin in his life. At first he came to him and said that he had done some great things for other people, but then began to lay into him. He is a good example of what not to say or do to someone in need. It reads, 1“then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, if we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways? Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.” (Job 4:1-9) Now to help you understand what he said here, I’ll break it down the best I can. God willing, of course. He said that the innocent or righteous do not perish and are not cut off from God. He is able to work in their lives, that the enemy will not take them down. However, people who willfully sin get what they deserve. These are those who suffer in life and are consumed by His wrath. Therefore, he assumed that Job was being punished because of sin in his life. He wasn’t willing to talk about it or get rid of it. This is a lot to assume about someone, and to think that people are sick or going through trials because of sin. This is something we should never do, under any circumstances.
Now, this story of Job’s friend Eliphaz gets even worse. You can just imagine how this was making Job feel. He said, 1“in thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” (Job 4:13-21) We learn that Eliphaz had a nightmare of some sorts, where he was trembling with fear, even his bones were shaking. It was then that a spirit, or evil spirit which sounds more suitable for what happened, passed by him. The hairs on his arms stood up and his countenance was not discernible. The spirit then asked questions about men being capable of being more just than God or more pure then Him. Therefore, we are much weaker beings than God and die without wisdom. From this so-called vision, Eliphaz falsely accused Job of trying to be more just than God, but then falling into sin. Therefore, his own wisdom would be lost in death. This is a lot to assume, which is wrong. We need to make sure that our dreams are of God or not, before approaching somebody about it. So pray about them, instead of using it to prove your point about someone sinning, and then being punished because of it.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that we will all gain the ability to discern things better before we put our foot in our mouths wrongfully. So many people are suffering, and it is sad that some people assume that it must be because of sin in their life. What I know is that trials come to all people, at various times in our lives. Some times it is harder, where there is job loss, financial issues, a death in the family, sickness, and other things that strike us down. We can be seeking Your hand and then all of a sudden have the world falls down upon us, as it seems. It seems out of our control, and we just come to You in prayer for direction, peace, and comfort. We also hope that other people would not judge us wrongfully because of what is happening. Instead, we pray that people will be more supportive of our needs. That people will remember us in their prayers and want to visit us, in order to comfort us. These are our wishes Lord, and only a few people are willing to do this. So little people call and visit people regularly, in order to check in on them. Therefore, people go on in life finding their comfort from You alone and the people who live with them. Lord, please tare down the pride in people’s hearts. Help them realize that people need their help without judgment cast down upon them. If people could simply gain a selfless heart where Your love would flow from their bodies onto others, then lives would really change for the better. Even the anxiety people are feeling on a day to day basis would find relief. We are Your instruments of peace, oh Lord, not of dissension. We deliver love, not discord. Help us to be this way towards people at church that we haven’t seen for a while, and visit them. Also, to our friends we haven’t heard from for a while, and, of course, our family. I love You, Lord. Thank You for helping me love people as You love them. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
