Job 8 Another friend blasts Job

There is a saying, that if this is what your friend looks or acts or speaks like Bildad, you don’t need him to be in your circle of friends. Listen to how he enters the conversation: “Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said: “How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind?” In other words, Job you are like a windbag of words, none of which are worthy. WOW! Talk about how to spear a heart in just one sentence!

However, Job doesn’t respond as a non-friend but with this: “Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God? If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.  He is wise in heart and mighty in strength— who has resisted him and remained safe?“ Job knows more about God’s character than Bildad does! 

When you are confronted with accusations such as this do you respond as Job or dig the sword in even deeper? Take the challenge to follow this principle: Proverbs 16:24: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.”

God is our refuge...His talons are strong
Let God protect you

Job 5-7 The Broken Hearted

As we have been experiencing the life of Job, we have witnessed his decline, his sadness, and his questioning. Enter into that equation is his so-called friend Eliphaz. In some ways Eliphaz is the sword that seeks to add more suffering to one who is already in the pit of despair, wondering the answers to why and why now! Wiersbe was wise in saying “You do not heal a broken heart with logic; you heal a broken heart with love.” Eliphaz seems to know just when and how to insert the sword and we have “friends” who much like that. Smugly Eliphaz says “But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case.” The sword digs in deeply as Job sits and listens to this friend of his.

We all face people like Eliphaz who seem to take joy in adding thorns to our pain. Jesus faced that and we do as well. So the question is how do you handle such remarks? Job responds: “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison;” At this point, we stop and ask if we too have faced such situations? We can only face them with the grace of God upon our souls.

Beloved, take care that your words do not wound but apply the salve of the loving Savior.

Hypocrisy
Sad state of mankind
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