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Read: Job 11-12

We know that Job is a righteous man, and we also know that what’s happening to him is coming from Satan, not God. However, Job doesn’t know that. He has no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. All he knows is that everything he loved and depended on, aside from his wife and God, has been taken from him, and he’s left sitting in pain trying to make sense of it.

Job is clearly struggling, but what stands out to me is that he keeps bringing everything to God. He’s honest. He’s emotional. He doesn’t pretend he’s okay. His friends were very kind in the beginning; they sat with him in silence for seven days (Job 2:13). Sometimes that’s the best thing anyone can do. It makes me think of the children’s book called The Rabbit Listened. Once Job starts talking, the friends start trying to explain and talk through things instead of just being present.

Zophar steps in during chapter 11 and basically tells Job that if he would just repent, everything would get better. He believes that suffering like this has to mean sin, and that God would restore Job if he would just admit his sin (Enduring Word Bible Commentary Job Chapter 11).

“If you would prepare your heart and stretch out your hands toward Him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. -Job 11:13–15

I don’t think Zophar is trying to be cruel. I think he genuinely believes what he’s saying. And honestly, a lot of what he believes about God isn’t wrong. God is good. God is just. God does forgive. But Zophar assumes he fully understands Job’s situation, but he doesn’t. Job doesn’t even understand it himself. Job knows he hasn’t done anything to deserve this, but his friends are not really believing him. The more they push, the more frustrated everyone gets. It feels like they’re talking past each other instead of actually listening (Enduring Word Bible Commentary Job Chapter 11).

This part really made me think about how often we do this to each other. Sometimes we’re so focused on what we believe is “true” that we forget to be present, gentle, or compassionate. More than one thing can be true at the same time. Zophar wasn’t wrong about God, but he was wrong about Job. Job wasn’t wrong to grieve, question, and struggle. Suffering didn’t automatically mean God was punishing Job. Things are not always black and white, except for this: God is ruler of all, and salvation comes only through Him and Christ Jesus.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.’” -John 14:6-7

I can’t help but think about how divided everything feels right now and has been for a while. In Job chapter 11 Zophar tells us to put away the sin in our hand. For a lot of us, that may very well be our cell phones. As I scroll social media, I see people picking sides constantly, and it all feels so loud. I don’t like everything that certain public figures stand for, morally or spiritually. Loving people doesn’t mean agreeing with everything that they do, especially when those things are sinful. At the end of the day, I’m not the judge, God is. My responsibility is to stay rooted in His Word and to keep bringing things back to Him, even when I don’t fully understand what He’s doing. That’s what Job is trying to do, even in his pain.

Protect your heart and mind. Be careful what you watch, listen to, read, surround yourself with, say, etcetera.

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” -Luke 11:34-36

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” -Philippians 4:4-9

Discussion Questions

1. How can we show love and grace to others without compromising biblical truth or supporting what Scripture calls sin?
2. Have you ever been in a season where you were doing your best to follow God but still felt like everything was falling apart?

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