IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JOB - Conclusion of The Comforters Who Failed

 Eliphaz, possibly the eldest and much older than Job, began.  In time, the other two followed suit.  In general, we might say tha tthey sheepishly followed the head of Eliphaz. Some of what those men said might have seemed harmless, as they spouted spiritual-sounding platitudes about God being lofty, punishing bad people, and rewarding the good.  From the first, though, there was an undercurrent of unkindness. Eliphaz used simplistic logic to suggest that if God is good and he punishes the bad, and Job was clearly being punished, then what must be true? Must not Job hiself be bad in some way?- JOB 4:1, 7, 8; 5:3-6.

Not surprisingly, Job did not take wel to that line of reasonign. He rejected it forcefully.  (Job 6:25)  But the three counselors became ever more convinced that Job was guilty of some hidden wrongdoing; he must somehow deserve all the bad things happening to him.  Eliphaz accused Job of being presumptuous, wicked, and devoid of godly fear.  (Job 15:4, 7-9. 20-24); 22:6-11) Zophar told Job to put away his evil and his enjoyment of sin.  (Job 11:2, 4, 14; 20:5, 12, 13)  And Bildad struk a particularly cruel blow. He suggested thaty Job's sons must have sinned in some way, so they deserved to die  as they did!  - JOB 8:4, 13.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JOB - Integrity Under Attack!

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