This week’s reading was Job 10-15, but let’s back up a bit to review some important passages in Job 4-6.
Job 4:1—Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “If anyone attempts a word with you, will you become weary?” Here, we see Job's friends talking to him. It's sort of like, “Are you going to hear what we have to say?” As a former basketball coach, I used to tell my kids, “If you have an eagerness to learn, you will get better; however, if you have decided you've heard this before, you will not grow.” Oftentimes, we shut people off before they mutter one word. There were a few pearls to extract from Job 4, and one that stuck out was “They die without wisdom.” When you’re going through something, at the very least listen to what someone has to say. You die without trying, without patience, without knowledge.
Job 5 :1—"Call out now; is there anyone who will answer you?” 5:17—"Behold, happy is the man who God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.” This is sound wisdom. Like Job, we should know that our Father ultimately wants what best for us. We should know that when we do something wrong, His nature will be to correct us.
Job 6—This whole passage is about how Job was hoping his friends would comfort him. 6:25-26— “How forceful are the right words! What does your arguing prove? Do you intend to rebuke my words and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind.” We see here Job is disappointed. I use, and still do, tell my kids, “Don't let your feeling get in the way of making the right decision.” That starts by praying.
As the chapters go on, Job endures many words from his friends and feels despair. He cries out to God, he debates with his friends, and he struggles through a time of great suffering. But there is so much more to Job’s story, and there is so much more to learn from his life.
