Eden to Eternity Vol. 1 Job 10-21
Job: 18/66 | Author: unknown | Old Testament | Wisdom & Poetry | Occurred around 2100 B.C. but written around 1440 B.C. (estimated)
Job Chapters 10 -21 Summary:
10. JOB'S REPLY TO BILDAD (continued)
Job admits that his life repulses him. He wants to know why God is "persecuting" him (10:2). He then addresses the Lord. He employs metaphors, acknowledging how God is the Creator and, thus, must also be the destroyer. He claims that God must have been waiting for Job to sin to finally punish him, as if God enjoys seeing any of His creation suffer. Job is so desperate for some explanation that the only thing he can do is frantically accuse God of being unjust and unreasonable.
11. ZOPHAR SPEAKS
The third friend, Zophar, extends his advice to Job after acknowledging that his dear friend Job speaks a tad bit too much.
"Should this abundance of words go unanswered and such a man of lips be acquitted?" (11:2)
He reminds Job of God's omniscience and omnipotence, reiterating our limited understanding. Zophar tells Job to pray to God so that his sin may be forgiven.
12-14. JOB'S REPLY TO ZOPHAR
Being a man searching for constructive criticism, Job delivers some; his friends have shared nothing insightful.
God harnesses authority over all things—life and death—and this is not news to Job. He even expresses his understanding of his minimal wisdom when attempting to understand God and His ways.
12:13 says,
"Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His."
Frustrated with the situation moving in a redundant loop, Job insists on pleading with God directly, hoping his lamenting will be heard. He requests God's hand and terror to be removed from Job and for God to call so that Job can answer, or vice versa. Job states that this will lead to some clarity about the sins he has committed against God, claiming that his transgressions are making God feel bitterness towards him.
Chapter 14 recites somber truths: that our days are numbered and we will encounter suffering. Job compares his situation to that of a deceased person asking to be revived.
Now, if the back-and-forth style of Job has been confusing and slightly hard to follow, that is okay. This is why we are breaking down the details together!
Let's reflect on what has occurred so far before jumping into the next portion.
The first of three series of speeches between Job and his friends (Chapters 4–14) reveals their perspectives on justice. Each friend, Eliphaz, Bidad, and Zophar, believes that any sorrow we experience is a deserved consequence of our sin. Their solution? Recall the wrongdoing and repent to end personal distress and be healed. Unfortunately, this guidance is too simple for the complexity of Job's suffering since Job knows he has lived an innocent life.
As readers, we know that Job's persistence is valid when declaring his innocence since God commended him for his integrity in Chapter 1. Then, why is Job facing severe hardship? The infamous "Why do good people suffer?" question might not receive the answer you were looking for, but as the story unravels, we will have a unique perspective of God's character throughout Job's season of suffering.
Second Series of Speeches
15. ELIPHAZ SPEAKS
Eliphaz is frustrated with Job when Job expresses that his friends do not fully understand his situation and words. Eliphaz reiterates how wicked people face immense suffering as a justified consequence of their actions.
These speeches are important as they represent some of the perspectives we may hold about God and divine justice, as well as human suffering.
16-17. JOB'S REPLY TO ELIPHAZ
Job, a man with a sense of humor, responds in verse 2 with, "I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. Is there no end to your empty words?"
This is equally important because, like much of the Bible, I believe we can all relate.
Verses 3–4 are almost identical to things I have felt or said to my own comforters throughout life: "What provokes you to continue testifying? If you were in my place, I could also talk like you." Or moreso, you simply don't understand.
We have all had these moments. There is a disconnect in the words we receive, which are not healing us in the way we hope for, and sometimes we refuse to hear anything at all.
Job continues, becoming noticeably irate and describing the extent of his trials.
Becoming overwhelmed by the redirection of his life, Job turns in anger towards God, convincing himself that God has malicious characteristics we know He does not have.
"I was at ease, but He shattered me... He sat me up as his target; His arrows surround me." (16:12–13, Job's words, not mine!)
Isn't it ironic how God gets the blame when we, as readers, know who is behind the theft and destruction? We saw the devil desiring to be in a position to judge those as if he is God, needing permission to walk out his ploys, all while God knows our individual characters and tolerance. He went even further by setting guidelines for Job's protection! God has more hope and faith in us than we could ever return.
Chapter 17 is a continuation of Job's self-pity. Re-reading the book of Job has made me realize that yes, Job endured tragedy, but it unraveled into something horrifying due to his becoming spiritually weak. He made himself believe that:
his "spirit [was] broken" (17:1)
"mockers surround' him (17:2)
he was "an object of scorn to the people; a man people spit at" (17:6)
his "days have slipped by; plans are ruined" (17:11)
The list goes on! Job has accepted that he is empty, used, abused, and worthless. He has accepted defeat so much that he begs for death. I want to empathize with him, but I find my heart breaking for God.
18. BILDAD SPEAKS
Verse 2 opens this chapter perfectly, "How long until you stop talking? Show some sense, and then we can talk" - Bildad, and us all.
"You who tear yourself in anger - should the earth be abandoned on your account, or a rock be moved from its place?" (18:4)
Bildad, similar to Job's other friends, circles back to his idea of justice at the conclusion of this chapter in verse 21: that Job's suffering "is the place of the unjust man, and this is the place of the one who does not know God."
19. JOB'S REPLY TO BILDAD
In an effort to excuse his self-victimizing behavior, Job asks his friends to go easy on him since it is God who "has wronged [him] and caught [him] in His net" (19:6).
*Sigh*, come on, Job.
As redundant as some of this content has been, I hope at the very least it has confronted some of our behaviors.
Now, Job not only defends his innocence by saying that God is against him but also his only remaining friends. He pleads for his friends to have mercy on him.
20. ZOPHAR SPEAKS
Zophar prefaces his response by saying that he will continue to speak out against Job due to the unsettling thoughts that this conversation has brought onto him (20:2).
However, this friend also champions the idea that Job must be wicked and thus deserves the current condition of life he is experiencing.
21. JOB'S REPLY TO ZOPHAR
In the last response in this series, Job tells his friends that his persecution does not derive from a mere man but from God, whose capabilities rightfully terrify Job. Job ponders why he has observed supposed wicked people remain unpunished, living contently.
He concludes by saying that his friend's responses are useless.
DG's Reflection Questions (pg. 25, 29, 31, & 33):
1. Job models for us how to go to God with our questions and in our pain. Where do you often go with your suffering apart from God?
2. Job's friends speak many true things about God, yet their harsh rebukes of Job are unfounded. How can we speak the truth in love to those around us?
3. Can you relate to Job's lack of understanding over his suffering? How can you respond as Job did by taking your complaints to the Lord?
4. How can meditating on the sovereignty of God bring you comfort today?
5. Job 14:1 reminds us that, because we live in a fallen world, life is short and marked by suffering. How does this help you live with an eternal perspective?
6. How can you guard yourself against relying on human wisdom?
7. In what ways are you tempted to fix your eyes on yourself (or others) instead of looking to Jesus?
8. Reflect on your prayer life. How does Job's prayer challenge you in your own prayer life?
9. What are some practical ways you can seek God, regardless of your circumstances?
10. Do you ever meditate on the truth of God being your redeemer?
11. How does finding confidence in God encourage you when you desire justice for ways you have been wronged?
12. How knowing Jesus as Immanuel, God with us, bring comfort when you feel alone or abandoned by those closest to you?
Apart from God, I take my suffering to my husband or close counsel, such as trusted family, friends, or women in my bible study group.
Job's friends were quick to provide their knowledge of God without assessing and understanding Job's specific situation first. This is perhaps the reason many of us feel that our situation is "different" from times before or what our neighbor may be enduring. We feel misunderstood. Unseen and not listened to. We must seek to be understanding, and then we can speak "the truth in love" by highlighting the value of others as God sees them. Tailor this to individuals by pointing out the traits and characteristics God instilled in them. We must be careful with our tongues when attempting to speak life to others, avoiding quick assumptions or condescending remarks.
I do relate to Job’s lack of understanding in these moments. I hope to remember these passages when I attempt to take any suffering to God, remembering that God is with me in my pain and affliction, not against me. I have the power to emphasize God's merciful character when reacting to challenges, instead of being temperamental and leading people astray. As do you!
Resting in the sovereignty of God brings me comfort because I know that God is greater than any challenge I may face. He has gone ahead of me in every season! God created us and everything in this world intricately; what is too vast or complex for Him?!
Being aware of life and its entirety prepares us for eternity in heaven. We all "suffer" through our own pain points in this short life, pushing me to be empathetic and patient with those around me. When facing my own difficulties, I realize that everyone has some sort of heaviness in their heart, so we must be kind and practice being understanding. The things of this world are temporary. It is a reminder that all things come to pass until we enter the kingdom.
To guard myself from relying on human wisdom, I am attempting to be active in prayer and in God’s word. Absorbing less of the patterns of the world and more biblical wisdom.
Learning to avoid comparing and contrasting is tough. I have found myself assisting others with this, which in turn has made me ponder some of these perspectives. No matter the age, it is challenging to not peek over at the timeline or blessings of others. But that's just it; we all have our own story to live out that is extremely significant to God and His kingdom. I am grateful for where I have been led up to this point, so I will remain hopeful and believe that God has even more incredible people to meet, places to see, and lessons to learn, all to be molded into a living representation of what actively pursuing God can do to a sinner. For those who may be stuck comparing their lives with those of friends, family, colleagues, or strangers online, do not let what matters to others determine the value of your life.
Job 16:15-17 says, "I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my strength in the dust. My face has grown red with weeping, and darkness covers my eyes, although my hands are free from violence and my prayer is pure."
I relate to this sentiment that Job has expressed. Sometimes, we have to put our pride aside and lay it all down when praying to God. My biggest lesson as a Christian? Surrender.
Practical ways to seek God are through reading the Bible and introducing yourself to God in the purest form, replacing some of the crazier secular music with worship music, and finding methods or places to comfortably talk to God. Let getting to know God transform your entire existence. Perhaps I am corny for Christ, but I get so excited when scripture randomly crosses my mind or comes out of my mouth when praying; I am literally speaking God's language! Something else I love doing in my prayer life is going on long walks or steady jogs while praying. I look forward to this time when I am getting fresh air, moving my body, and disclosing everything to God! Another step I took was to designate a closet in our home to have my very own space to tack scripture to the walls and shut that door to pray in private! It may sound crazy, but faith consists of going outside the norms of human reasoning.
Do you ever meditate on the truth of God being your redeemer? I do everything on the grounds of this truth! When I feel myself beginning to worry about anything, I quickly remind myself that I personally know God, and that is more than enough to grant me peace and serenity! One of my favorite names of God, Jehovah Jireh, translates to "the Lord will provide." He has it covered.
Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, "The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged."
I agree that Job subconsciously found confidence in God to speak boldly about his circumstances, even if he was getting some things wrong. Job was able to push back against his friend's accusations of him being guilty and wrestle with what may be occurring in his life. It is important to trust in God and not human understanding when searching for divine truth and justice.
Proverbs 3:5-6 declares, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight."
What Job and his friends may have done incorrectly when assessing the situation? Implementing human understanding instead of striving to appreciate that God's character surpasses simplistic reasoning. This principle is encouraging because it is easier to accept that we cannot always grasp God's heavenly plans since we are limited to mortal logic, rather than falling for the dramatization that because life is hard, God must be bad.
Another beautiful name, Immanuel, is more than comforting. I reflect on this concept all the time, and it brings the greatest healing. Life is fleeting, but our God is not.
Gratitude List:
Getting to see all three of my favorite toddlers in one place! They're growing SO fast!
The ability to take a family member to not only his first NFL game but to see his favorite team play (and win!)
Catching up on missed episodes of our favorite shows
Seasonal cooking and baking shows
People who can finish your sentences
Introducing "old" friends to the new!
(Positive) changes and transitions at work
New perspectives and changing attitudes
Early morning weekend drives and coffee runs
God showing me that I am capable of more than I originally thought!
God’s sense of humor - On a run last week, I prayed over properly leading people and being able to offer guidance. As I finished this prayer, a man frantically pulled over next to me and said, "Ma'am, I’m sorry, but can you help me get out of this neighborhood? I am lost and can’t figure it out.” Being in a neighborhood full of knuckles and culdesacs is difficult to navigate for newcomers, but more importantly, I realized I offered directions directly after discussing this with God! It may not be exactly what I meant, but it sure was a metaphorical way that I think God was using as humor!
Clear blue skies - I am a sucker for a sky of any sort. The sky always seems to be my breath of fresh air from God that warms my heart and brings instant joy.
Enhancing my time management skills so that I can effectively multi-task and enhance all-around productivity throughout my weeks. (Can you tell I work closely with metrics?)
Seeing my husband read scripture before bed and him sharing scripture with me in the mornings!
Anniversaries! 12 years with my husband! Almost half of our lives have been spent with one another. There have been many lessons on how to love and be loved, as well as be patient with one another! And we share this anniversary date with my mom and stepdad!
Brunches with great company!
Fulfilling goals and creating new ones
New Hokas; to convince myself that I am indeed a runner!
TWO pregnancies in the family—EEK! Extra thankful for God being a redeemer and *quickly* expanding our family with new lives. I joke that the girls in my family have a pregnancy pact, but now I am convinced that I have been right all along! How have my parents become grandparents to 5 grandchildren in a matter of 4 years?!
Late night *girly* kitchen convos
The satisfaction of completed yardwork
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References
Daniels, K., Dickerson, T., Dickson, K., Hess, A., & Turner, S. (2022). Eden to Eternity (Vol. 1). The Daily Grace Co.
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible. Holman Bible Publishers.
The Bible Project. (2015). Book of Job Summary: A Complete Animated Overview. YouTube. Retrieved October 8, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQwnH8th_fs.
