Day 157

It’s Not That Simple

Read: Job 20-22

Zophar makes the point that the “joy of the godless” is “but for a moment” (20:5). This is true in the light of eternity. But Job points out that in fact many wicked people “reach old age, and grow mighty in power” (21:7). The simplistic view of Job’s “friends” will not stand up in the light of the facts. The wicked often prosper and die at ease. The fact is that regardless of their goodness or evil, some people die in quiet ease and others die a terrible death, but their final fate is the same: “they lie down alike in the dust” (v. 27). Again we must remember that there was little knowledge at this stage of God’s revelation regarding the life to come. The knowledge we now have in the light of the New Testament regarding heaven and hell was not clearly known in Job’s day.

Eliphaz responds to Job and also has a simplistic view which does not fit the facts. He accuses Job of wickedness. He charges him with mistreating people. If Job is suffering, this must have been the case. He distorts the facts to fit his theology. But Job had always been kind to people and had not mistreated them. Eliphaz again pleads for repentance on Job’s part, which would have been excellent advice if he had done the things he was accused of, but he had not. If we have sinned against our fellow man, we certainly ought to repent.

PRAYER
Father, help us to hold views which are in keeping with the Bible and with reality. In Jesus’ name. Amen.