Read
Job's Reply to Eliphaz
It's Impossible
1Job said:
2It's impossible to weigh
my misery and grief!
3They outweigh the sand
along the beach,
and that's why I have spoken
without thinking first.
4The fearsome arrows
of God All-Powerful
have filled my soul
with their poison.
5Do oxen and wild donkeys
cry out in distress
unless they are hungry?
6What is food without salt?
What is more tasteless
than the white of an egg?
7That's how my food tastes,
and my appetite is gone.
* 8How I wish that God
would answer my prayer
9and do away with me.
10Then I would be comforted,
knowing that in all of my pain
I have never disobeyed God.
11Why should I patiently hope
when my strength is gone?
12I am not strong as stone
or bronze,
13and I have finally reached
the end of my rope.
My Friends,
14My friends, I am desperate,
and you should help me,
even if I no longer respect
God All-Powerful.
* 15But you are treacherous
16like streams that swell
with melting snow,
17then suddenly disappear
in the summer heat.
18I am like a caravan,
lost in the desert
while searching for water.
19Caravans from Tema and Sheba
20thought they would find water.
But they were disappointed,
21just as I am with you.
Only one look at my suffering,
and you run away scared.
What Have I Done Wrong?
22Have I ever asked any of you
to give me a gift
23or to purchase my freedom
from brutal enemies?
24What have I done wrong?
Show me,
and I will keep quiet.
25The truth is always painful,
but your arguments
prove nothing.
26Here I am desperate,
and you consider my words
as worthless as wind.
27Why, you would sell an orphan
or your own neighbor!
28Look me straight in the eye;
I won't lie to you.
29Stop accusing me falsely;
my reputation is at stake.
30I know right from wrong,
and I am not telling lies.
Reflect
What a disappointment Eliphaz’ words have been to Job.
He likens his experience to a caravan of travellers in the desert who are searching for water. They have hope and joy when they see swollen streams of water in the distance, but when they reach the streams they have dried up.
Similarly, Job had hope and joy when his friends arrived. He expected sympathy and understanding but is deeply disappointed. Friendship has failed Job and he remains alone. Oh, his friends are still there—but he is alone in his misery and confusion with their accusations adding to his torment.
Job has strong words for Eliphaz, “I’m desperate and you should help me. How can you sit there and insinuate that my suffering is my own fault. Stop accusing me falsely. My reputation is at stake.”
He’s not asking them to give him anything—just to believe in who he is. How can those who know him believe that it is his own sin that has brought this suffering? Like Satan, they attack his character.
So often in life, we betray our friends by making character judgments based on our interpretation of the evidence rather than questioning the evidence in light of what we know about the person. Job is justifiably angry. Surely his friends know his character.
Anyone who has been falsely accused can relate to Job’s mental anguish. How he longs for his friends to stand with him in his agony.
Hearing Job’s agony adds a poignant dimension for me as I think about Jesus’ struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus asks his closest friends to stand with him, to watch and pray, as he agonizes over the consequences of the coming betrayal and false accusations. And their friendship failed. They fell asleep, leaving him totally alone (Matthew 26:36-45).
Respond
O God of mercy, help me to recognize the deep needs of those around me—the need to be known and believed for who they are, the need to have someone stand with them in their struggles. May I neither judge falsely nor fall asleep. Amen.
Lynn Smith
Lynn served Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development where leadership development became the focus of her involvement with students. After retiring, she co-founded NextLEVEL Leadership, an International organization focused on encouraging Christian women to develop in their leadership roles in the marketplace, profession or ministry. Her passion for seeing others grow in their leadership confidence has inspired her to teach and mentor wherever God calls. Publications: Gender or Giftedness: a Challenge to rethink the basis for leadership within the Faith Community; Mentoring: Leaving a Legacy; Fred's Not Here - Living with Alzheimer Disease takes Courage