Job 4-5

“As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same” (4:8).  Job’s well-meaning friend Eliphaz, after sitting with Job to mourn for a while, begins instructing Job in the common-sense wisdom of his day.  People who “sow trouble” generally reap the same, and so Eliphaz assumes that Job’s sufferings must be his own fault.  Eliphaz suggests that the destruction of his family and fortunes was the “discipline” of God (5:17), and Job should accept it and repent.  The problem was that Job had done nothing deserving of such punishment (1:1).

“Behold, this we have searched out” (5:27). Eliphaz was confident, yet wrong. The God who sustains the universe has plans and purposes beyond our understanding.