March 4, 2009
Nothing More . . . Nothing Less
Job 4
Robin Koehling
Central Truth
Eliphaz believes that a person’s character can be judged by looking at their circumstances: prosperity reflects a close fellowship with God, while troubles and suffering are an indication of some unconfessed sins. While these beliefs may occasionally be true, they are not universal criteria to determine our standing before God.
Key Verse | Job 4:6–8
"Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope? Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same." (Job 4:6-8)
Job 4
Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
Yet who can keep from speaking?
3
Behold, you have instructed many,
and you have strengthened the weak hands.
4
Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,
and you have made firm the feeble knees.
5
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;
it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6
Is not your fear of God
1
4:6
Hebrew lacks of God
your confidence,
and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7
Remember: who that was innocent ever perished?
Or where were the upright cut off?
8
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same.
9
By the breath of God they perish,
and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10
The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,
the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11
The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,
and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12
Now a word was brought to me stealthily;
my ear received the whisper of it.
13
Amid thoughts from visions of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men,
14
dread came upon me, and trembling,
which made all my bones shake.
15
A spirit glided past my face;
the hair of my flesh stood up.
16
It stood still,
but I could not discern its appearance.
A form was before my eyes;
there was silence, then I heard a voice:
17
‘Can mortal man be in the right before
2
4:17
Or more than; twice in this verse
God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18
Even in his servants he puts no trust,
and his angels he charges with error;
19
how much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundation is in the dust,
who are crushed like
3
4:19
Or before
the moth.
20
Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces;
they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
21
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them,
do they not die, and that without wisdom?’
Dive Deeper | Job 4
Eliphaz’s theology was once the driving force behind my behavior. I realized I must deal with my core belief about suffering and God’s approval. I knew the right answers, but I struggled with truly believing them in my heart. Can God really be trusted? Is what the Bible says about Him true? Is what He says about loving me real? Am I a disappointment to God? These are questions that I have had all my life.
Even though it was never my father’s intention, I chose as a child to believe that my daddy would love me more if I were perfect. I wanted his approval, so my mission was set. As a believer, I transferred this need for approval to my Heavenly Father. I had accepted His free gift of salvation, but I had an underlying core belief that I must strive for perfection to keep His love and to keep Him from being disappointed. My circumstances were the barometer that measured my approval rating with God. But circumstances are not an accurate measure. Clinging to this belief left me bitter toward God when my situation didn’t change. I turned from God and ventured out on my own path to find approval from the world. This left me feeling more like a disappointment to God.
Thankfully, Eliphaz wasn’t my friend, but Ann Holford was. She reached out in the midst of my darkest time and corrected the thoughts that I had to be perfect for her or God to love me. This was great news because I believed that I had gone too far to be loved.
During the last five years, my beliefs about God have been renewed. At last, I am beginning to see the vastness of His mercy, grace, and love. I can confidently state that there is no pit too deep for His love to reach into. My core belief and passion today is that there is absolutely nothing I can do to make Him love me any more AND nothing I can do to make Him love me any less!
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have an Eliphaz in your life? What lies are you believing about God?
2. What kind of friend are you, an Eliphaz who misjudges or an Ann who gives hope?
3. How are you still striving to get God to love you more? What can you do today to recognize the vastness of His mercy, grace, and love?