This is the Bible Book Club, the book of Job. Welcome to the club.

Last episode in chapters 4 through 7 of Job, after seven days of silence, Job's three friends

finally speak, and it makes everything worse.

Elifaz, the one we call the pious preacher, opens up with a compliment. But then he pivots and

starts to accuse Job. His theology is simple. The righteous, prosper, and the wicked suffer. Job is

suffering, therefore, Job has sinned. As evidence to his case against Job,

Elefaz pulls the spiritual authority card. He speaks of a dream and a parable that prove

Job is guilty. Despite Elifaz's unkindness, Job does not respond by denying or defending.

He responds with a cry for compassion from his friend. He also tells

God he would rather die than deny him. But he will not confess to sins he did not commit.

Job turns on Elifaz, comparing them to a desert wadi or a dry riverbed. They showed up like

friends, but delivered dry theology instead of the living water.

Job then takes his pain straight to God, raw, honest, angry. He is our example that anguished

prayer is still prayer. And the friends are our example of how not to show up for someone who's

suffering. Totally. Well, Elifaz is not the only one

attached to the retribution principle. All three friends believe that if you do something wrong,

God will punish you. And if you do something right, God will reward you. It is fair. It is just.

And because God is just, that must be the way he rules.

It's a mathematical equation to them that should always work. Sin equals suffering. Righteous

equals blessing. Job is suffering. Therefore, Job has sinned. However, all three friends are completely wrong because Job did not sin in this case, but they will persist in an attempt to prove that he did.

The friends have no idea that the suffering they're pointing to as evidence against Job in this earthly courtroom

is proof of his righteousness in the courtroom of heaven.

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