Read
Eliphaz's First Speech
Please Be Patient
1Eliphaz from Teman said:
2Please be patient and listen
to what I have to say.
* 3Remember how your words
4have guided and encouraged
many in need.
5But now you feel discouraged
when struck by trouble.
6You respect God and live right,
so don't lose hope!
7No truly innocent person
has ever died young.
8In my experience, only those
who plant seeds of evil
harvest trouble,
9and then they are swept away
by the angry breath of God.
10They may roar and growl
like powerful lions.
But when God breaks their teeth,
11they starve, and their children
are scattered.
A Secret Was Told to Me
12A secret was told to me
in a faint whisper—
13 I was overcome by sleep,
but disturbed by dreams;
14I trembled with fear,
15and my hair stood on end,
as a wind blew past my face.
16It stopped and stood still.
Then a form appeared—
a shapeless form.
And from the silence,
I heard a voice say,
17“No humans are innocent
in the eyes of God
their Creator.
18He finds fault with his servants
and even with his angels.
19Humans are formed from clay
and are fragile as moths,
so what chance do you have?
20Born after daybreak,
you die before nightfall
and disappear forever.
21Your tent pegs are pulled up,
and you leave this life,
having gained no wisdom.”
Reflect
Life is painfully miserable for Job and he has no idea why. Our natural response to anything unwelcome is to ask why. Why this? Why me? Why now?
My mother suffered from Alzheimer disease and her agonizing questions were always a variation of “What have I done to deserve this? Why is God punishing me? “
Aren’t we prone to ask the same questions whenever we face difficulties?
We think that If we have done something to merit this, then we can do something to fix it. That keeps us believing we’re in control and the solution is within our power.
Sometimes that’s very true, but the story of Job reminds us that it is not always true.
Job’s friends, however, were certain that they knew why he suffered. They believed the evidence spoke for itself. Job is suffering, therefore he must have sinned. Eliphaz is first to share his insight but it was really the common belief of the age: God rewards the righteous with long life and punishes the sinner with trouble.
That concept of God as a scorekeeper has survived the centuries and is still prevalent today. Many people still live according to the belief that if I live right, I will be guaranteed success, or health, or whatever my heart desires. That seems to work for us as long as things are going well, but when life falls apart—we lose our health or money, our children rebel, we get cancer or Alzheimer disease or we face any one of a multitude of unwelcome circumstances—we discover how deluded we have been.
It’s dangerous to think that it’s within our power to ensure that only good things happen.
This wasn’t the case for Job. Nor is it true for us.
Respond
O God of all wisdom, deliver me from the delusion that I am in control and from the temptation to think that I should have answers for anyone’s suffering. Let me instead simply embrace those who suffer with your love. 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