Job 4 and 15

A few years ago, I visited Jim at a local hospital and invited a leader from our church to join me. Jim was experiencing severe stomach pain and had been losing weight. His doctor wanted to run some tests, and understandably, Jim was worried. Our visit aimed to see how Jim was feeling, encourage him, read Scripture, and pray together. However, the church leader I brought along took a different approach. Once we settled into the room, he took over the conversation. “Jim,” he said, “I have a question for you. Is there any sin in your life?” Jim was taken aback, as was I. Despite his pain, he replied, “Well, no major sins that I know of.” Afterward, I spoke with the leader about my frustration regarding his abrupt question. I also added it to my list of coaching tips under the title, “What not to say during a hospital visit.”

Many people believe that life’s challenges are always the result of sin. They hold a “cause and effect” view of God: sin leads to punishment, while obedience results in blessings. However, our study reveals that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” God was not punishing Job for sin; instead, he was permitting Satan to test Job’s integrity.

While Job was emotionally suffering from the loss of his family and physically struggling with declining health, his friends came to support him. They sat silently with Job for seven days. However, beginning in Job 4, everything changes. Chapters 1-3 detail Job’s distress, while chapters 38-42 describe his deliverance. In between, throughout the extensive poetic section of Job 4-37, Job presents several rebuttals as his friends take turns bombarding him with insinuations and accusations. The first to speak is Eliphaz, regarded as the oldest of these friends. I have consolidated his three speeches from Job 4, 15, and 22 for our purposes.

Eliphaz hears Job’s desperate plea for relief (Job 3) and cannot remain silent. He urges Job to be patient while presenting his case. Eliphaz begins by reflecting on Job’s past, noting that Job provided wise counsel to many who faced difficulties. Eliphaz commends Job, saying, “Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees” (Job 4:3-4). When I read these verses, I think of someone who always starts their complaint by expressing love and appreciation before delivering criticism. I can picture your knowing smile; you’ve experienced this too. The “comfort then confront” approach is a familiar pattern; for Eliphaz, it’s time to confront.

Eliphaz argues that Job was very pious when advising others. “But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed” (Job 4:5). Eliphaz then expresses his reasoning: “Who that was innocent ever perished?” (Job 4:7) and tells Job that he is not the person everyone believed him to be. His friends thought Job feared God and lived with integrity, but that isn’t true. Job is suffering because he deserves it. “…Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same” (Job 5:8).

Eliphaz is just getting started. In his second discourse, he accuses Job of being filled with pride (Job 15:2). He insults him by scolding Job for “unprofitable talk” and abandoning the “fear of God” (Job 15:3-4), suggesting that Job’s words come from a heart full of iniquity (Job 15:5). Eliphaz then poses ten sarcastic questions.

Job 15:7-14
Are you the first man who was born?
     Or were you brought forth before the hills?
⁸ Have you listened in the council of God?
     And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
⁹ What do you know that we do not know?
     What do you understand that is not clear to us?
¹⁰ Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us,
     older than your father.
¹¹ Are the comforts of God too small for you,
     or the word that deals gently with you?
¹² Why does your heart carry you away,
      and why do your eyes flash,
¹³ that you turn your spirit against God
      and bring such words out of your mouth?
¹⁴ What is man, that he can be pure?
      Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?

At this point, Eliphaz continues his verbal assault, aiming directly at Job’s heart with his sword of words. 

Job 15:15-16
Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones,
     and the heavens are not pure in his sight;
¹⁶ how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,
     a man who drinks injustice like water!

Eliphaz is convinced that Job has sinned and is suffering the consequences. He sees Job, a pitiful figure hunched in pain, and concludes, “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days” (Job 15:20); “dreadful sounds are in his ears” (Job 15:21); and “distress and anguish terrify him” (Job 15:24). Eliphaz determines that Job is among the wicked and provides justification for Job’s misfortune: “Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty” (Job 15:25).

We’ll continue with Eliphaz next time. For now, let’s examine his statement in Job 4:7— “Who that was innocent ever perished?” Eliphaz was adamant that disobedience and failure cause all suffering. Some of you might feel that way too. Many people in pain ask, “What did I do?” Let me answer that question in two ways.

First, Scripture clearly states that Job was righteous in God’s eyes. Although he couldn’t claim perfection, the pattern of his life, empowered by God, was one of obedience and worship. Therefore, we can conclude that Job’s suffering did not arise from sin. His experience teaches us that we don’t always need to carry the burden of thinking, “I must have done something wrong.” Does history provide examples of others who suffered without justification? Joseph comes to mind. Remember how he ended up in prison for refusing to sleep with Potiphar’s wife (Gen. 39)? What about every martyr who was burned at the stake or torn apart by wild animals in the Roman Coliseum? And what about Jesus? As for Job, his torment was allowed to reveal his character. No doubt Job had questions. There were times he cried out to God; he was human. So are all of us. When we examine Job’s reactions to his friends’ speeches, we see disillusionment, despair, and a longing for vindication before God. Yet, through it all, Job never abandoned his faith. He trusted God when he didn’t understand. He believed in God when the darkness concealed the light. Deep down, he knew that God was enough.

Second, you may be experiencing the consequences of past sins. An affair has shattered your family, leading to estrangement from your children. An addiction caused you to abandon those you love, resulting in isolation. A decision has inflicted pain on others, and you mourn the loss of a friendship. A regrettable action has hurt someone, and the guilt still lingers. Today, I encourage you to express sorrow for your sins to God and allow him to begin the healing process. Jesus, who was without sin, took your sins upon himself and paid the penalty for them. Accept the sacrifice he made for you on the cross and embrace his forgiveness. Remember, Abraham made poor choices, Jacob was deceitful, David committed adultery and orchestrated the murder of Bathsheba’s husband, and Peter denied Jesus three times. All were forgiven and significantly used by God. Here is my prayer for you from Psalm 32, a prayer of David: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Ps. 32:5 NIV).

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 4 and 15
Track Eliphaz’s argument. What are his primary accusations against Job?

Talking to God
Talk to God about your pain. Ask him for the strength not to lose faith in testing. If there is past sin, I encourage you to pray Psalm 32:5.

Have Questions?
Please ask if you have any questions about today’s reading or teaching. Our team is here to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon.

This week’s podcast is a must-listen for parents. I have a conversation with professional counselor Heidi Erickson, who explains the effects of pornography on children and what we can do to protect them. Visit The Journey with Ron Moore Podcast, Episode 68.