Eliphaz does not understand what he is doing. He has known God as a God that blaming others
for suffering is the way he has thought God rolls. Have you heard the phrase
you reap what you sow? This can be true,
but not in this instance. Eliphaz exclaims, “Resentment kills a fool, envy slays
the simple.”
Job has cried out in deep anguish after the death of his children. Then Eliphaz says his children are far from
safety crushed in the court without a defender.
Eliphaz is working to dash away any hope in God. I wonder if Elephaz had hope in Job instead
of God. This would explain his desire to
want Job to save himself. This reminds
me of Christ in the dessert hearing, save yourself from Satan. This reminds of Christ hanging on the Cross
while some stood and hoped He would save himself.
It seems that Eliphaz is saying, “Hey Job, It is time to quit and pull yourself
from the pit.”
Thought
Eliphaz portrayed a God who is without compassion. How do you view God?
Job
5
New
International Version (NIV)
5 “Call if you will, but who will answer you?
To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Resentment kills a fool,
and envy slays the simple.
3 I myself have seen a fool taking root,
but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far from safety,
crushed in court without a defender.
5 The hungry consume his harvest,
taking it even from among thorns,
and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not spring from the soil,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.
To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Resentment kills a fool,
and envy slays the simple.
3 I myself have seen a fool taking root,
but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 His children are far from safety,
crushed in court without a defender.
5 The hungry consume his harvest,
taking it even from among thorns,
and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For hardship does not spring from the soil,
nor does trouble sprout from the ground.
7 Yet man is born to trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 “But if I were you, I
would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
10 He provides rain for the earth;
he sends water on the countryside.
11 The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.
I would lay my cause before him.
9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
10 He provides rain for the earth;
he sends water on the countryside.
11 The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 “Blessed is the one whom
God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.
19 From six calamities he will rescue you;
in seven no harm will touch you.
20 In famine he will deliver you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.
19 From six calamities he will rescue you;
in seven no harm will touch you.
20 In famine he will deliver you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
and need not fear when destruction comes.
22 You will laugh at destruction and famine,
and need not fear the wild animals.
23 For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 You will know that your tent is secure;
you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
25 You will know that your children will be many,
and your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,
like sheaves gathered in season.
27 “We have examined this,
and it is true.
So hear it and apply it to yourself.”
So hear it and apply it to yourself.”
Do you notice that Eliphaz only
mentions God as a God who corrects and discipline? The friend that sat with Job and mourned with
Job for 7 days cannot stand it any longer. God said that Job was blameless and
God Trusts Job.
Thoughts
Have you blamed
without knowing the circumstances? Have you blamed while knowing the circumstances? Eliphaz knew the circumstances and yet blamed and his loveless words cut
deep into Jobs bleeding wounds.
More Thoughts
Elipaz wanted to fix Job
and used scripture wrongly to blame. How
have you blamed others by hearing God’s word out of context?
Think about Jesus who walked with us healing tax collectors and
prostitutes! God is compassionate!
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