We pick up with Job’s rebuttal of Zophar’s accusation- that Job’s wealth and its dramatic loss are evidence that he is wicked and his calamity is punishment for his sins.

Job is a step ahead of his friends. He knows they can name names of rich bad guys who finally got their comeuppance and died penniless. But he also knows that there are exceptions to Zophar’s rule. He recounts the instances that we’ve all seen (from ancient times to today) of rich people who are actually wicked but who live their lives to a ripe old age with a lucrative investment portfolio, a summer home, and a yacht.

‘Splain that if you would. No one can.

Job sounds very like Solomon here. The only thing missing is a sigh and a chorus of “all is vanity and vexation of spirit.”

“One person dies in prosperity, completely comfortable and secure, the picture of good health, vigorous and fit. Another person dies in bitter poverty, never having tasted the good life. But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

(What’s with ancient people and maggots? Not sure why they have to keep mentioning that wretched detail…🤢)

Now Eliphaz speaks. He’s rather snarky and basically says- Oh I’m guessing that God is punishing you because you’re so righteous. Yeah. That makes perfect sense, Job.

Ever watched a show where an interrogator is trying to get someone to remember details of a crime that they really know nothing about? I get those vibes here.

Picture it this way. Job in an orange jumpsuit. Handcuffed to a stainless steel table. One lonely light hangs above in a cold grey cinderblock room. Eliphaz takes a drag on a stubby cigarette. (For bonus points, read Eliphaz like he’s Edward G. Robinson. Read in a clipped manner and drop an occasional “See?” after every other sentence.)

Eliphaz: “You must have lent money to your friend and demanded clothing as security. Yes, you stripped him to the bone.” (Eliphaz begins pacing. And thinking. Putting the pieces together.) “You must have refused water for the thirsty and food for the hungry.”

Job: no, no…

Eliphaz “You probably think the land belongs to the powerful and only the privileged have a right to it! You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans. That is why you are surrounded by traps and tremble from sudden fears.” (See?)
‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He goes on putting words in Job’s mouth, motives in his heart, and deeds in his hand. He just makes them up. It feels like Eliphaz is slightly intoxicated with his own genius “deduction.”

He then offers Job a plea deal.

“If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!“
‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He promises Job that if he would just confess, God will finally hear him and answer his prayers. Boy is that tempting.

There is a perfect scene in Anne of Green Gables to illustrate this. Marilla’s amethyst broach is missing. She asks Anne about it. Anne admits to having pinned it on the day before “just to see how it looked” but then put it back on the pin cushion. Marilla believes that Anne has stolen or lost the broach and is lying about it and sends her to her room until she confesses. Anne really wants to go to the Sunday school picnic. But if she doesn’t confess, Marilla will not let her out of her room to go. So she makes up a confession that she took the broach and accidentally dropped it in the lake. Marilla is furious and plans to send her away but Matthew finds the broach (which was not at the bottom of Barry’s Pond A.K.A. The Lake of Shining Waters). Marilla shows Anne the found broach.

Marilla: “Whatever made you say you took it and lost it?”

Anne: “You said you’d keep me in my room until I confessed so I just thought up a good confession and made it as interesting as I could.”

Marilla: “But it was still a lie.”

Anne: “You wouldn’t believe the truth.”

I wonder if Job feels that.

It’s kind of surprising that Job hasn’t said, “Yes. You got me. I’m a miserable, money-grubbing thief. You’re right. I’m a wicked, wretched sinner.”

But that’s not what he says. Instead, Job does a Google search: where to find God. Zero results. His desperation in this chapter (we’re in 23 now), reminds me of the woman with the issue of blood. She said, “If I could just touch the hem of Jesus’ robe, I will be healed.” Job says, “If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court… he would give me a fair hearing.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Then, this beautiful coffee cup verse here:

“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I can’t find God. I don’t know where He is. But He knows where I am. It’s rather like “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” but somehow it’s rather comforting when it’s God.

Job wraps up by restating his claim of loyalty to YHWH but also acknowledging that the Lord doesn’t answer to him or anyone else. And the more he thinks about that, the more afraid he gets.

It’s unnerving territory- pondering just how great God is, how small we are, and how He will do as He wishes. Who exactly is going to stop Him?

What if God wants something of me that I don’t want? What are my options? Rebellion or submission are the only two that come to mind.

When I find my will, shall we say, less than perfectly aligned with the Lord’s, this verse gives me so much peace:

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Yes, I know I’ve plucked it out of its context. (Please do go read that whole fabulous chapter of Philippians. It’s one of my faves.) But look at what it’s saying. It is God working in you to give you the desires, the will, that you ought to have.

Here it is in the Amplified:

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

Isn’t that encouraging? ☺️

Lord, here’s my will. I’m trusting You to work in me by Your unlimited power to shape my will so that I want what You want. Amen.