Do we treat suffering like Eliphaz, with accusations, or do we seek to help? Let’s begin in Job 5.
Do people assume that our own foolishness causes our suffering? Was Eliphaz implying that the sins of Job’s children caused their deaths?
Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn? For irritation kills the fool, And jealousy brings death to the simple. I have seen the fool taking root, And I cursed his home immediately. His sons are far from safety, They are also oppressed at the gate, And there is no one to save them. The hungry devour his harvest And take it to a place of thorns, And the schemer is eager for their wealth. For disaster does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground, For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward. (Job 5:1-7 NASB)
Do Eliphaz’s words sound faithful to God, or is he using religion to play the accuser?
But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. (Job 5:8-16 NIV)
Does Eliphaz assume that God is correcting Job, that his suffering is chastening? Do we make such assumptions about the afflicted?
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole. He shall deliver you in six troubles, Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. You shall laugh at destruction and famine, And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For you shall have a covenant with the stones of the field, And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. You shall know that your tent is in peace; You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss. You shall also know that your descendants shall be many, And your offspring like the grass of the earth. You shall come to the grave at a full age, As a sheaf of grain ripens in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; It is true. Hear it, and know for yourself. (Job 5:17-27 NKJV)
Do we accuse the suffering like Eliphaz? Are predatory lending, job loss, declining wages, domestic abuse, poor education, fathers abandoning their families, and disability major causes of poverty? What will Jesus say to those who refuse to relieve suffering?
Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life. (Mat 25:44-46 NLT)
Do we treat suffering like Eliphaz, with accusations, or do we seek to help? You decide!
