Job LXXXIV

Eliphaz never said the Lord showed him, told him, or revealed to him that Job had sinned. The entirety of his dream and the words the spirit he saw spoke were innuendo. Using human reason alone, what the spirit in his dream said to Eliphaz made sense. If God charges His angels with error, how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before a moth? You’d have to be some kind of special in order to attain something so out of reach as being upright in the sight of God, wouldn’t you? Indeed, this is why God singled Job out among his contemporaries as being blameless and upright, and although Satan was fully aware of this, he still attempted to use Job’s friends to weary him and sow doubt in his heart.

It’s so nefarious and evil that only the father of lies could come up with such a plan.

There are two major and often overlooked takeaways from the fourth chapter of the book of Job, the first being that the devil never gives up, no matter how many times he fails. It is why we are commanded, and repeatedly so, that we must be watchful, on guard, sober-minded, and ever aware of the enemy’s plots and schemes.

When Satan had no more appeals before God, having taken everything from Job apart from his life, he resorted to using those close to him and attempted to coerce them on the off chance that he might relent to their counsel when his own machinations did not play out the way he hoped they would.

First came the wife insisting that Job should curse God and die, be done with the pain and the torment of mourning the loss of his children, and sitting on an ash heap scratching at himself with a potsherd; then he went to his friends, going so far as to appear to Eliphaz in a dream in the hope of shaking Job’s resolve and making him wonder what he’d done or what sin he’d committed for having been brought so low.

It was easy for him to accomplish this with Eliphaz because he was just reinforcing Eliphaz’s confirmation bias in that he’d already concluded that none perish being innocent. The enemy will often use what seems right to a man to undermine the plan of God or at least to attempt it. He will even go so far as to put a false word in the mouths of those who deem themselves prophets or give false dreams, as was the case with Eliphaz.

He is a master at twisting Scripture to accomplish his ends, including his attempt to tempt Christ into throwing Himself from the pinnacle of the temple, reminding Him of what was written regarding being caught by the angels so that His foot would not dash against a stone. The devil is shameless in his attempts to deceive and will go to any lengths to get his way. The only means by which we can defend against this is to resist him and know the Word of God for ourselves so that when he attempts to twist it, we recognize it for what it is.

The second major takeaway is that the devil isn’t above using anyone and everyone around you, whether friend or family, in his attempt to sow doubt in your heart or shake your faith in the sovereignty of God. Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, or someone you tend to confide in, Satan is quick to try and finagle his way into their hearts and attempt to steer their thoughts in such a manner wherein when they open their mouth and give counsel, it is hurtful, destructive, and counterproductive within the context of the situation you find yourself in.

As with all things, many who have no desire for the truth will exploit this reality and resist the Word, insisting that it doesn’t bear witness to their current state, but we cannot ignore the overarching truth that Job had committed no sin and had remained blameless and upright. Calling out sin and accusing someone of a sin they have not committed are two very different things.

When the counsel you feel compelled to give is contrary to Scripture, then by definition, it is not godly counsel, and you must assess where the compulsion originated from and resist verbalizing it. Conversely, when you are offered counsel that goes against the Word of God, even if said counsel might seem well-reasoned, it is your duty to reject it because it contravenes Scripture. We get in trouble when we accept advice from those around us that directly opposes the Word because, at the moment, it makes us feel validated or in the right.

I’ve seen more relationships, marriages, and friendships fall apart because a third party thought they knew better and gave advice that was wholly focused on the flesh, on feelings, and on some momentary perceived victory than anything spiritual, long-lasting, and conciliatory.

It is wisdom itself to know when to reject unwise counsel, even if it is well-intentioned or comes from a good place. After Jesus had informed His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and be raised on the third day, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him.

“Far be it from You, Lord, this shall not happen to You!” This was Peter’s reproof, and I don’t doubt that it came from a good place. He didn’t want to see Jesus suffer or die, and he thought he was encouraging and positive in his rebuke. Christ’s answer was direct and to the point, however, because He understood that in that moment, the enemy was attempting to use Peter to sow doubt in His heart: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Peter was still Peter, but Satan was using him. While I don’t recommend using the same response with a spouse or a friend, there are more tactful ways of delivering the same message. Just because someone’s counsel comes from a good place, it doesn’t make it godly. Just because they have good intentions as far as what they’re insisting you should do, it doesn’t mean it’s what God intends for you to do.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.