Two Theories From The Book Of Job

How could Eliphaz be so stupid? The solution for Job’s enemies may be the same as the solution for arguments in the 21st century.: 

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Transcript

Title: Two Theories From the book of Job

Description: The solution for Job’s enemies may be the same as the solution for arguments in the 21st century.: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2076577/episodes/18491828

#GospelAccordingToTheRock

Two Theories From the Book of Job

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There’s a “bad guy” in the book of Job. Actually, depending on how you count them, there are three of them. They are labeled “friends” in the book, but Job and his three “friends” argue a lot.

In Job’s time, apparently it was understood that a person could sit for a while, and other people in the conversation would patiently wait for the other to respond.

In our time, the wait time is shortened, sometimes to less than half a second.

But I digress.

I want to talk about two theories I have about a problem. It’s going to take me a little while to describe the problem, but I will eventually get to where the problem is described. And then I can ask the problem in one line.

The argument between Job and the friend Eliphaz had a start early in the book of Job – either when Job first spoke in Job 3, or when Eliphaz first responded in Job 4. 

Here’s what Eliphaz starts his response with:

Job 4:7-8

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?

Or where were the upright ever cut off?

Even as I have seen,

Those who plow iniquity

And sow trouble reap the same.

Job 4:7-8

Eliphaz took some important sayings – some important oral or written literature – and wiped them from his memory.

Eliphaz, remember Adam and Eve?

Eliphaz and I share some common heritage. Eliphaz doesn’t say anything about our common family history.

For God to continue His mercy on Adam and Eve, God clothed them in leather garments. That means the skins of innocent animals covered Adam and Eve to clothe them.

The animals perished even though they were innocent. The idea of trading the innocent animal for the lives of people persisted throughout Eliphaz’ culture.

Eliphaz, remember the next generation? Cain and Abel? That’s where innocent people started to suffer. There’s this story about how Abel was able to please God and displeased his older brother. Brother Cain killed Abel.

“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?” Eliphaz in his opening statements has missed the Bible Story of Cain and Abel.

The concept of the innocent perishing was being overlooked by a rich know-it-all. 

I just quoted some important stories that had to be around somewhere in Eliphaz’ time. 

How old is the book of Job? It’s debatable, but it could be older than the books of Moses at the start of our Bible. It describes a climate and an ecosystem that’s pretty different from what we have on the earth thousands of years later..

I earlier promised I would explain the problem I have two theories about. In one line, that question is, “How could Job’s friend Ekiphaz be so STUPID?”

I’m going to put forward two theories. One of those theories is itself pretty stupid. Another of those theories comes from Elphaz’ own words as recorded in the book of Job.

MAYBE, Eliphaz jumped into HG Wells’ fictional time machine and went forward to the late 20th century or early 21st century and heard talk radio hosts, public debates and church gatherings. He saw how important messages from his time were forgotten and how people followed in large numbers. Then he climbed into the HG Wells’ fictional time machine and went back to his time to copy the thought processes and share them with his followers.

That’s theory one. I don’t even believe it myself.

Now I’ll put forward theory two. Let’s look at what Eliphaz has to say in his opening argument a few lines later:

Book of Job, chapter 4. Verse 17

(Eliphaz speaking)

“Now a word was secretly brought to me,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling,
Which made all my bones shake.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face;

The hair on my body stood up.

16 It stood still,

But I could not discern its appearance.

A form was before my eyes;

There was silence;

Then I heard a voice saying:

17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?

Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 If He puts no trust in His servants,

If He charges His angels with error,

19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,

Whose foundation is in the dust,

Who are crushed before a moth?

20 They are broken in pieces from morning till evening;

They perish forever, with no one regarding.

NOTE: “With No One Regarding”. No one is listening? 

Verse 21 Does not their own excellence go away?

They die, even without wisdom.’

That’s the end of the passage.

A lot of Eliphaz’ advice follows after that second introduction to his argument – which continues for another chapter.

So here’s my second theory: Eliphaz was listening to a spirit and what that spirit said helped Eliphaz forget some of the important oral messages of his time.

This second theory could also explain some of the problems with media and public debate in the 21st century.

Let me point out that the Most High eventually said to Eliphaz, “You have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.” So this spirit that had talked to Eliphaz before the argument with Job started told Eliphaz something that God later said wasn’t true.

The cure for Eliphaz and his buddies was to offer up fourteen innocent animals and the smoke from them mixed with Job’s prayers ascending up kept the Most High from dealing with Eliphaz according to his folly.

In an upcoming episode, I might lay out similarities between the Book of Job and the crucifixion of Jesus. There are a bunch of them, and the sayings of the detractors in both situations have some similarities.

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