It is simply amazing to see in the book of Job that his so-called friends -- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar -- automatically assumed that he was guilty as sin, and called him a hypocrite to his face!
Friends are supposed to be there to stand with others in their time of need. But not Job's friends. They simply refused to accept the fact that even though Job was a righteous man and totally innocent, he was subjected to a burden of loss which hardly anyone has to face. His wealth was gone, his health was gone, his children were dead, his wife had abandoned him, his servants were ignoring him, and God was standing by to see how Job would hold up under the assaults of Satan.
The story of Job is an amazing and true account about how the richest man of "the East" (presumably Arabia) was brought down to the dust. Job was never told that Satan was behind all these attacks on his body and soul. But his "friends" had no problem telling him that it was because of his wickedness that he was being punished. They had never seen nor heard of a case where a righteous man was crushed by God to prove that he would maintain his integrity.
Then we have the case of Smart Alec Elihu who claimed to speak "in God's stead", but was simply another accuser of Job. His "wrath was kindled" against Job and his friends, and he made a pompous speech about how God would never deal harshly with an innocent man, and that Job had been "walking with wicked men" and was paying the price. While he extolled God's greatness, he falsely accused Job without even knowing what had happened in the background. So he turned out to be another false friend -- an accuser of the brethren.
There are many lessons for Christians in this book of Wisdom. We need to understand that God could deal with any of us as He dealt with Job, and allow Satan to destroy us. We also need to know that it will be a rare friend who will understand what is going on behind the scenes. Most of our friends will automatically assume that because we were at fault, we are paying the penalty for our sins, and receiving our just desserts. But only God will know the truth.
The only possible response in such a crisis will be to remember the words of Job in Job 13:15: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Eventually God reversed Job's misfortunes and blessed him abundantly. But did not tell him why all this had happened to him. Neither does God tell us why when He sends calamities upon us.
Friends are supposed to be there to stand with others in their time of need. But not Job's friends. They simply refused to accept the fact that even though Job was a righteous man and totally innocent, he was subjected to a burden of loss which hardly anyone has to face. His wealth was gone, his health was gone, his children were dead, his wife had abandoned him, his servants were ignoring him, and God was standing by to see how Job would hold up under the assaults of Satan.
The story of Job is an amazing and true account about how the richest man of "the East" (presumably Arabia) was brought down to the dust. Job was never told that Satan was behind all these attacks on his body and soul. But his "friends" had no problem telling him that it was because of his wickedness that he was being punished. They had never seen nor heard of a case where a righteous man was crushed by God to prove that he would maintain his integrity.
Then we have the case of Smart Alec Elihu who claimed to speak "in God's stead", but was simply another accuser of Job. His "wrath was kindled" against Job and his friends, and he made a pompous speech about how God would never deal harshly with an innocent man, and that Job had been "walking with wicked men" and was paying the price. While he extolled God's greatness, he falsely accused Job without even knowing what had happened in the background. So he turned out to be another false friend -- an accuser of the brethren.
There are many lessons for Christians in this book of Wisdom. We need to understand that God could deal with any of us as He dealt with Job, and allow Satan to destroy us. We also need to know that it will be a rare friend who will understand what is going on behind the scenes. Most of our friends will automatically assume that because we were at fault, we are paying the penalty for our sins, and receiving our just desserts. But only God will know the truth.
The only possible response in such a crisis will be to remember the words of Job in Job 13:15: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Eventually God reversed Job's misfortunes and blessed him abundantly. But did not tell him why all this had happened to him. Neither does God tell us why when He sends calamities upon us.