Remember OJ?

 

 

Eliphaz continues his “spot on” declarations concerning God, and I want to back up those declarations with other portions of Scripture especially here as it relates to the justice of God. Get this truth into your heart lest any root of bitterness and unforgiveness develop in you. Nobody gets away with anything in this life. God knows! He sees! He will repay!

 

And consider this! Every single act of injustice was squared up on the cross. Jesus took the penalty for all injustices on Calvary! This means that the redeemed of God have all their “injustices” covered by the blood of Jesus. The “unredeemed? Well, “vengeance is Mine says the Lord, I will repay.” (Rom 12:19)

 

That some may get away with injustice because of the grace and mercy of God through the blood of Jesus may cause us to cry “foul!” But let us remember our own sinful condition and injustices from which we have been delivered through merciful God-granted faith in Jesus. As 2Co 5:21 reminds us: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

In this life, we have no clue as to how often God steps in and thwarts the plans of the enemy. Rest assured….He does, and rest assured, even when those evil plans unfold in real life, God will ultimately turn them out for His good! Ge 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive”.

 

Eliphaz tells us: “He frustrates the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot carry out their plans.” (Job 5:12) This truth is affirmed in Ps 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

 

Then in verse 13 Eliphaz asserts:  13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, And the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. This truth is affirmed in Ps 9:15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.

 

 In verse 14 Eliphaz says, “14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, And grope at noontime as in the night.” And in  De 28:29 we read: "And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.

In verse 15: “But He saves the needy from the sword, From the mouth of the mighty, And from their hand. And in  Ps 35:10 we read: “All my bones shall say, "LORD, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?"

 

Nobody gets away with anything in this life. God knows! He sees! He will repay!

And so Eliphaz can say in verse 16: So the poor have hope, And injustice shuts her mouth.”

 

The mouth of injustice was forever closed on Calvary when Jesus took the wrath of God against any and all sins, but woe to those who reject this free gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus, because God asserts, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay!

Remember O.J. Simpson? Most people feel O.J. Simpson got away with murder, but in the end, all we can say is, “We’ll see about that, we’ll see.” If there is any repayment to be made for injustice, it’s in the hands of God.

Help Is On the Way

 

 

A funny thing happened on my way through the Book of Job. The plight of a widowed mother of four living in Sri Lanka was brought to my attention. I was asked to send off a note to “encourage her in her suffering.” It just so happened that I was up to Job 5:11, and this in part, was the note I sent:

 

“The story of Job is instructive as it relates to our sufferings here on earth. Job lost everything….including his good health. All ten of his children were killed in a windstorm, all his cattle, and crops were destroyed by raiders. Things were so bleak for him that his wife told him to curse God and die.

Three of Job’s friends came to his side to comfort him in his affliction, but they just made matters worse, telling Job that he must’ve sinned to have that kind of affliction in his life.  In spite of their bad advice, they did pass along some truths concerning affliction.

One of Job’s friends (Eliphaz) said this about God in  Job 5:11 “He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.”  In other words, God sees our afflictions and help is on the way. If not in this life, then the next, and so we learn to persevere in our troubles.

We have the hope of the poor beggar Lazarus, whom Jesus told us about in Lu 16:19-25,  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented

Eventually, the beggar’s relief came and the words of  Ps 113:7 rang true! “He (God) raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,”

 

Help is on the way beloved! Persevere! Your afflictions are working on your behalf to produce EXCEEDING GLORY! 2Co 4:17 reminds us: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”

I hope that note helped encourage that widow in Sri Lanka, I know that scripture from 2 Cor 4:17 helps me as I recover from the effects of Covid. Just think, “Far more exceeding and weighty glory is on the way for all God’s enduring children!”

Go Ahead, Marvel At the Rainmaker

 

 

Eliphaz knows a lot about God and he continues sharing that knowledge with his hapless friend Job in Job 5:10. He says, “He (God) gives rain on the earth, And sends waters on the fields.

God waters the earth. Have you ever considered that fact? Whether it’s rain, snow, or sleet, God has the last say on where that low pressure system or high-pressure system is moving. He determines droughts and He determines floods. hurricanes and blizzards are at His bidding.

This is not just wishful thinking on the part of Eliphaz. We find God the Rainmaker in other parts of Scripture as well.

Ps 65:9 You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.  10 You water its ridges abundantly, You settle its furrows; You make it soft with showers, You bless its growth.

 Ps 147:8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.

 Jer 5:24 They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest."

 Jer 10:13 When He utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: "And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries."

 Ac 14:17 "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

 

In water is life, and God is behind it all. Though we have great science behind our weather predictions, and we should thank God for such knowledge, the truth is the weatherman isn’t always accurate with his forecasts. God, can turn the weather on a dime, and when He does, instead of bad-mouthing the weatherman, why don’t we pause and marvel at the God of Creation like the disciples did at their sudden change in the weather:  

Mt 8:26 But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

 

The Unsearchable, Marvelous, Numberless Things of God

 

 

Job 5:9 Who does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without number.

Eliphaz continues speaking to Job and he begins to tell some of the things he knows about God. These things are spot on in accordance with what the Scriptures tell us about God: Eliphaz says, “God does great things, and unsearchable, Marvelous things without number.

Wait a minute! Who told Eliphaz these things? The Psalms have not yet been written, yet they affirm the same thing!

Ps 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.

 Ps 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things!

 Ps 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.

It could only be the Holy Spirit. He put those words and that knowledge into the heart of Eliphaz. He spoke and the Holy Spirit moved the writer of this book to put those words in permanent ink for you and I.

 

Let’s first of all run with this knowledge! The God we worship is “great!” His thoughts toward you and I are “without number!” He does “wondrous things!” And His greatness is “unsearchable!” (We may think we have an idea of how great He is, but we have just scratched the surface!) Let us therefore bow down and worship God with praise and thanksgiving!

 

Secondly, let’s take comfort from the truth of 2Ti 3:16 which is on display here in the declarations of Eliphaz! “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”

 

The Bible! Every word of it inspired by God and kept for us through the ages. From these Holy Spirit inspired words of Eliphaz, to the corresponding words of the Psalmist, the prophets and more! That in itself is a marvelous, unsearchable wonder of God toward you and I.

Guard My Lips

 

 

Okay, I told you from day one concerning this book of Job in the Bible. I struggle with it. I hope you will continue to follow along as I muddle through it. I pray that there will be vital lessons for you and I concerning our spiritual journey with Christ.  And I pray that I won’t join the “3 friends of Job Club,” who had a skewed idea of who God is. They thought they knew God, but only knew one side of Him.

We just got started in this book, and one thing I have learned already in this study that I never realized before is that Eliphaz’s problem was he thought he could speak for God. This is a sobering revelation for me, because as a teacher, I am obligated to remind people, “Thus saith the Lord!” And if I’m going to proclaim it…..I’d better have it right.

 

No wonder we read in Jas 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

 

Further warnings about selective teaching of the Word of God are found in De 4:2 "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

And in Re 22:18,19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

Like I said…..sobering thought, but I press on for I cannot help but speak. Ac 4:20 says, “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

And as David lamented in Ps 39:1 "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me." 2 I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; And my sorrow was stirred up. 3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

Even the well meaning Eliphaz, who saw the spiritual state of Job spiraling downward felt compelled to speak! Job 4:2b "But who can withhold himself from speaking?”

 

I see so much self-inflicted pain as professing Christians, often out of ignorance, continue to downplay God’s Word as it relates to what constitutes sin and they pick and choose what they will follow. Ho 4:6 reminds us: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. “

Sin brings pain! I was reminded of this often as I was in the Covid unit for a month. Not that the individual sins of the Covid victims were responsible for their malady, but sin, like Covid brings suffering and sometimes death.

 

So, as a teacher of God’s Word, I pray I am able to shine a light on what constitutes sin according to the Word of God, AND that I am able to point to the only cure for sin…..a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

Oh Lord, guard my lips and my pen, that I might not over emphasize Law at the expense of Grace, and Grace at the expense of Law.

 

I have a Bible verse taped to my computer screen so I can see it and pray it before I write my daily blog. It’s from Pr 16:3, “Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.”

 

Lord, help me to ever do this as I teach and preach from Your Word.

Sin Boldly

 

Job 5:2 For wrath kills a foolish man, And envy slays a simple one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root, But suddenly I cursed his dwelling place. 4 His sons are far from safety, They are crushed in the gate, And there is no deliverer. 5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest, Taking it even from the thorns, And a snare snatches their substance. 6 For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble spring from the ground; 7 Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

 

The twisted theology of Eliphaz continues as he pretends to speak for God in the matter of wrath and judgement.  Note that he sprinkles in truth with his lecture, but he misapplies it. He perverts it! We are warned against such false teachers in Ac 20:30 and that from among your own number, men will arise, perverting (twisting) the truth, to draw away the disciples after them.

 It’s true that the wrath of God will be poured out upon the foolish man on Judgement Day. He is the fool who has lived and died with the mantra, “There is no God.” Ps 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."

 

And it’s true that the wrath of God will be poured out on those who have set themselves up as their own god. It was this kind of envy that resulted in the fall of Adam and Eve: Ge 3:5 "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

It’s also true that many unbelievers prosper in this life (the foolish taking root v3)

Ps 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree. 36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

These things are true, but then in what amounts to gross insensitivity in addition to false teaching Eliphaz attempts to speak for God as he recounts Job’s personal losses: Job’s sons and daughters crushed by a tornado, and robbers taking all of his property.

 

“I (God) cursed his (Job’s) dwelling place.” V3

 

Eliphaz implies that this was no accident. Someone was behind these tragedies; they didn’t just appear out of the dust. And that someone is God. Again it’s true that all things pass through the hands of a Sovereign God, but Eliphaz indicates that these tragedies against Job were brought on by some sin in his life.

 

He concludes this brief section with, 7 Yet man is born to trouble, As the sparks fly upward.

 

The sparks (resistance to God’s Law (sin) fly upward to heaven where God will deal with it by pouring out His wrath.

 

What a dismal outlook on life. Eliphaz relegates life on this planet to Law! There is no mention of God’s grace and mercy as it concerns the sinner. No mention of a coming Messiah, who will receive the wrath of God in the sinner’s stead.   Only an angry God dealing with sinners with any and all sorts of physical punishment in the here and now!

 

Waiting for the other shoe to drop from the hand of God is no way to live! Martin Luther once said  “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for He is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are in this world we have to sin (sparks will fly upward) This loife is not the dwelling place of righteousness but, as Peter says, “we look for a new heaven and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, (2 Peter 3:13) It is enough that by the riches of God’s glory we have come to know the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. (Jn 1:29) No sin will separate us from the Lamb”

 

In this life, we will have trouble, but to fear God solely because of His potential for pouring out wrath is just plain foolish and unbiblical. You want a reason to fear God? Fear Him because of His ability to forgive completely your sins against Him.

Ps 130:4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

A Word For the Sexually Confused

 

 

Job 5:1 "Call out now; Is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?”

Eliphaz continues his pontificating in response to Job cursing the day he was born.  This cursing is no light matter. To curse life is to curse God Himself.  The Potter/clay analogy used in Scripture is helpful here and there is no shortage of references in Scripture:

 Isa 45:9 "Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'He has no hands'

Isa 29:16 Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

Ro 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?"

 

In effect, Eliphaz is saying, “If you want to curse God, for your lot in life, who do you have left to turn to? Is there anyone but God who can help you in your situation? Do you think the angels will help you? They are nothing but awed bystanders in the Potter’s shop! They witness what Sovereign God is doing with each individual and they marvel at His providence as He always works things out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Let me pause here and briefly address the increasing problem of sexual confusion in our world today: It shouldn’t surprise us with the saturation and fixation of sex in all forms of media in our world today. Sex is the end all! It’s what really matters. I understand the world’s fixation with sex, but find it strange that the professing Christian should be so consumed with something that is temporary and will be completely absent in heaven.

Mt 22:30 "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. (celibate)

 

 In this matter of sexual confusion, we need to get an eternal perspective! Eternity is a lot longer than the here and now!

 

Job was in great pain. The sexually confused also experience great emotional pain as the world’s view of sex is pressed in on them from every side. and they often find themselves asking the same question of God  that we find in Rom 9:20, "Why have you made me like this?"

 

Jesus’ discussion with the religious leaders of His day concerning divorce is helpful here. We read about it in  Mt 19:9-12, “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."  10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 "For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."

 

First of all, what is a eunuch? A eunuch is someone who has sex removed from their radar screen.  Some are born that way and will not have the desire for heterosexual sex in accordance with God’s will. (It is reserved for man and wife in marriage)

Others are eunuchs made by men. (These eunuchs were physically fixed and placed in charge of the king’s harem, where they could not tinker with the king’s goods.)  But the context here is a eunuch is also man made through the act of unscriptural divorce.

Still others, like the Apostle Paul)  decide to remain unmarried so they can devote themselves to kingdom work without the responsibilities of a wife and children.

 

These three possibilities are available to all, the key for each of us is to embrace our role, and thereby give glory to God. You may struggle with being attracted to the same sex, or you may struggle with your God-given gender. The struggle is real, but you don’t have to act on it. You can embrace your role of eunuch.

 

Jesus, makes it clear that this teaching is difficult: (Not all can accept it) but it’s truth whether we accept it or not. And if you struggle in these areas, don’t curse God, rather invite Him in to your struggle and He will help you through it in accordance with His good and perfect will.