The Book of Job (Part 7)

The next two questions (Question 9 & 10) that we posed in our first devotional concerning the Book of Job were as follows:

9.    In what Spirit are Job’s three counselling friends operating in?

10.  What did God think about all this talk about who He was?

The New Testament tells us several things about Satan’s character and purposes. It tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). It tells us that Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). It tells us that Satan is a thief that comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). It also tells us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1). All these scriptures give us a pretty good picture of what our enemy is all about. Job did not have these scriptures. The only thing he had was a relationship with God which convinced him that God was good and he held onto that through everything.

Now, as we look at Job’s three friends, we see a steady stream of accusations against Job and his children. Job and his children must have done something wrong to bring this catastrophe on themselves. Job must be a wicked sinner. He must be hiding something. His children must be wicked sinners. I ask you. Where does that spirit come from? Let’s look at a few verses concerning the spirit that Eliphaz (the chief of the three friends) was listening to:

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: (Job 4:12-18).

This scripture should give you a glimpse of the spirit involved here. This was not the Holy Spirit. This was demonic. It sounds so spiritual and true when the spirit poses the question “shall a man be more pure than his maker”. That question was the impetus to start accusing Job of wrongdoing. Job must have been to blame. He must have done something wrong. He must be wicked. The only problem with that type of thinking is that God didn’t feel that way about Job.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8 & 2:3)

After 37 chapters of bannering back and forth between Job and his friends God responds to all of them and it was not pretty. God responded to them for the next four chapters and you can literally feel all of the participants in this war of words feeling smaller and smaller in stature the longer God spoke.

God basically asked them where they were when He created everything. He asked them to explain how the earth was made and the oceans formed and on and on. Question after question was based on this one thought from God.  Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2)? In the end, they all had to repent. Job himself said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6)

And what did God think about Job’s friends?

And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. (Job 42:7-8)

Let’s get back to one of our first questions concerning the Book of Job. Is this book about suffering or is about spiritual warfare? I personally think it’s all about spiritual warfare. It is about the tactics of the enemy. It’s about the difference between good and evil. It’s about Satan’s lies and false accusations against God’s man. It’s about Satan trying to depict God as the destroyer rather than himself.  It’s about Satan trying to water down the goodness of God. But in the end, God turned what the enemy meant for harm to the good. He turned this entire episode into a teaching lesson for us to see the enemy’s tactics. This book was for our insight and instruction. Are we listening? Do we see it? God is Good, all the time!!!!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)