Punch to the Gut 1 Continues – Job 5

Remember the cartoon Road Runner? Wikipedia’s description is, “Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner are a duo of cartoon characters from the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons. In each episode, the Coyote repeatedly attempts to catch and subsequently eat the Road Runner, a fast-running ground bird, but is never successful. Instead of his animal instincts, the Coyote uses absurdly complex contraptions to try to catch his prey, which comically backfire, with the Coyote often getting injured in slapstick fashion. Many of the items for these contrivances are mail-ordered from a variety of companies that are all named Acme.”

Eliphaz could have been a writer for this cartoon.

“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple. I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling. His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them. The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

“As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number: he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields; he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night. But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you. You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing. You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth. You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season. Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.” (Job 5, ESV)

Eliphaz believes his argument to be unassailable.  There is no one whom Job can persuade otherwise than as Eliphaz has described his situation.  It is unclear what he means by vexation and jealousy being the fool’s undoing.  Perhaps he means these motivations lead the fool into self-destructive behavior and/or behavior that God punishes. It my seem temporarily that the fool prospers but rather quickly his prosperity begins to disintegrate and his children become victims.  Others take over his wealth and there is no one to blame but the man himself.  Humans are born to trouble and presumably only wisdom on the part of some can keep them from yielding to such trouble.

Of course, Job has just lost his entire fortune, as well as many servants in his household, and most painful of all has lost all his children to death, and now is himself suffering greatly from what seems to be some form of skin infection that is incredibly painful and lethal. In Eliphaz’s logic Job is a crafty fool getting his just due.

Eliphaz’s advice is for Job to turn to God who does powerful things and is able to reverse one’s fortunes.  Those who consider themselves crafty and wise God frustrates but saves those who are needy.  If Job will recognize what God is doing and repent, become needy, restoration is possible. Job is being disciplined by God, the Almighty one, and should not be bitter about it, but rather let God bind up Job’s wounds by coming back to Him.  Then his prosperity will be restored and guaranteed by God and he will never need fear again.  Eliphaz knows, as do all the wise, that this is the case and the answer for Job.

Discussion Questions

1. Who is your favorite cartoon character?
2. How does the old TV cartoon Road Runner describe Eliphaz’s perspective?
3. Would you like for Eliphaz’s perspective to be true?
4. Have you ever felt that the reason things weren’t going well in your life was because you were not being obedient enough to God?
5. Have you ever judged others’ misfortunes as symptoms of their disobedience to God?
6. Is there anyone you need to apologize to for misjudging them?