"You Have Not Spoken the Truth About Me"

 Jehovah now took action to comfort Job in his pain. Addressing Eliphaz, evidently the eldest of the three false comforters, Jehovah said: "My anger burns against you and your two companions, for you have spoken the truth about me as my servant Job has." (Job 42:7) Think about those words. Was Jehovah saying that everything those men had said was false or that every word that Job had uttered was correct? Of course not.  However, there was a vast difference between Job and his accusers, Job was brokenhearted, racked with grief, and stung with false accusations. Thus, it is easy understandable that he would speak rashly at times. However, Eliphaz, and his two friends did not bear such burdens. Weak in their own faith, they spoke deliberately and arrogantly. Not only did they attack an innocent man, but worse, they misrepresented Jehovah himself, in effective painting him as a harsh, even wicked God!

Little wonder, then, that Jehovah demanded a price from these men. They had to sacrifice seven bulls and seven rams-no small matter, for the bull was designated in the Mosaic Law as the sacrifice that the high priests have to offer if his sin had brought guilt on the whole nation.  (Leviticus 4:3) It was the costliest of the animals offered as a sacrifice under that Law. What is more, Jehovah said that he would accept the offering of Job's accusers only if Job first prayed in their behalf. (Job 42:8) How it must have soothed Job's heart to be vindicated by his God and see Jehovah's justice prevail!

Jehovah was confident that Job would do as he asked him to, forgiving those men who had hurt him so deeply. And Job did not disappoint his Father. (Job 42:9) His obedience was the greatest proof of his integrity, far more powerful than words. And it paved the way for the greatest blessings of Job's life.

Next time: "Very Tender in Affection"

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