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A FAULTY CONCLUSION
FRIDAY, APRIL 15
Job 4:12-21

Psalm 46

 

“…whereunto ye do well

that ye take heed.”

 

A FAULTY CONCLUSION
 
Eliphaz had a dream-like revelation on which he based his claim to religious knowledge (Job 4:12-16). We know that God spoke to man in days gone by through dreams and visions (Job 33:14-15). However, this dream could not have been a revelation from God as Eliphaz’s information was truth mixed with error. In all likelihood, it came from his own observation mixed with some truth he had learned from others. We should also note that today God no longer speaks to man through dreams and visions. His final message to mankind was given through Jesus Christ and recorded in the Holy Scriptures (Heb 1:1-2).
 
Eliphaz began by stating that God’s morality, justice and purity were far greater than man’s. There is certainly no question about this. God’s simplest thought is greater than man’s greatest thought and He is absolutely just and pure (Isa 55:8-9; Deut 32:4). Eliphaz further concluded that while God is absolutely pure and just, all of creation is hopelessly sinful. We must surely agree with that (Job 4:17-19).
 
From what he had seen and experienced, Eliphaz concluded that man went through life slowly dying. Man ultimately dies and, in the end, is not wiser (Job 4:20-21). Due to man’s sinful and hopeless condition, Eliphaz then drew the conclusion that all suffering came from sin. He stated that the man who said he did not sin was lying. Once again, this is true. The Scripture says, “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). However, Eliphaz’s conclusion that all suffering is from sin is not correct. The reason this conclusion is faulty is that such a conclusion is not revealed to us by God in the Holy Scriptures.
 
As we continue our study in Job, we see again the importance of knowing the Scriptures. It is through this knowledge that our confidence in God and His love continues to grow. May we remember that God sometimes allows His obedient children to suffer. When He does, His grace is sufficient to meet that need.
 
THOUGHT: Why was Eliphaz’s thinking faulty?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, that “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps 119:105).

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