“But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
I would lay my cause before him. 9 He
performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. 10 He
provides rain for the earth; he sends water on
the countryside. 11 The lowly he sets on high,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that
their hands achieve no success. 13 He catches
the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of
the wily are swept away. 14 Darkness comes
upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope
as in the night. 15 He saves the needy from the
sword in their mouth; he saves them from the
clutches of the powerful. 16 So the poor have
hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so
do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.[a]
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures,
but his hands also heal. 19 From six calamities
he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch
you. 20 In famine he will deliver you from death,
and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,
and need not fear when destruction comes. 22 You
will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not
fear the wild animals. 23 For you will have a covenant
with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will
be at peace with you. 24 You will know that your tent
is secure; you will take stock of your property and find
nothing missing. 25 You will know that your children
will be many, and your descendants like the grass of
the earth. 26 You will come to the grave in full vigor,
like sheaves gathered in season.
27 “We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it
and apply it to yourself.”
In our family’s decision to move to Kansas two years ago, we experienced the turmoil of the unknown. A few years back, as a single person, I had been up for adventure and risk; but now, with a husband and child, I had a deep desire to make a responsible and “safe” decision. We prayed, calculated family budgets, made “pro” and “con” lists, crafted family priority charts, and sought much counsel from wise friends.
In today’s passage from Job, we read the words of Eliphaz the Temanite, a wise friend from whom Job sought counsel in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances in Job’s life. After the loss of his possessions, the deaths of his children, and the loss of his own health, Job chooses not to curse God. He calls upon wise friends for guidance, and Eliphaz offers counsel first. In a reading of the entire book, we see that some of Eliphaz’s advice is deemed inappropriate, but much of what he has to say in today’s passage is worthwhile advice.
What can we learn from this wise friend’s advice? First (vs. 8-16), Eliphaz focuses on the saving power of God, and suggests that Job “lay his cause before him.” Sometimes it is easy to lay our cause before God, and other times it is harder. It is difficult when we, like Job, feel that we have lost everything. It is tempting to be angry at God and turn to other sources of relief. Other times, like our family decision I referenced, we may pray first, but then get lost in worry and the “what if’s.” We lay our case before God, but then we take it back.
In the second half of Chapter 5, Eliphaz instructs Job to “not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” This may sound curious, since you can read at the beginning of Job that God did not inflict Job, but that Satan was to blame. Despite Eliphaz’s questionable theology here, his advice can help us to see the opportunity for God’s redemption in difficult circumstances. God will “bind up,” “heal,” “rescue,” and “ransom.” It is especially beautiful to note how these words echo the hope to come in Christ.
Back to my family’s decision to move to Kansas. Perhaps the most difficult part of moving was the insecurity of moving to a town we’d never seen, into a financial situation that was somewhat unknown. Near the end of today’s passage, we hear the words, “You will know that your tent is secure…” This short phrase resonated deeply with my own sense of insecurity. The tent symbolizes all of our basic needs for security on earth – food, clothing, housing, even community. Indeed, God has made our Kansas tent secure! We have all we need, and a wealth of friendships – many wise friends from whom to seek counsel should we reach a difficult place once more.
As we journey through Lent together, remember that we can seek counsel and community; and that wise advice leads us to lay our cause before the Lord, for in his hands we find our greatest security.
Shannon Sigler is an adjuct faculty member at Southwestern College.
(Credit: Job Confessing His Presumption to God Who Answers from the Whirlwind, William Blake, 1803-1805)
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