The Mistake of Job’s Friends

A number of years ago the Lord let me see by his Spirit what the overall point of the book of Job is: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24). The book is as much about Job’s friends, if not more so, than it is about him. They just could not resist the temptation to conclude that Job had to have done something seriously wrong to ‘deserve’ such calamity. There was never any argument that it was God who had brought these calamities upon Job. Everyone had that much wisdom. Yes Satan was involved, but not on his own terms, so his involvement wasn’t really important to Job or his friends. They all understood that "power belongeth unto God" (Psm. 62:11). But Job’s friends misjudged both Job and God. They missed the mark on Job because they decided that he had done some really evil thing, even though they couldn’t put a finger on anything in particular. Everything they accused him of was just supposition, because in reality there wasn’t any wrong to know about the man. They also misjudged God by limiting him in concluding that he would only bring such calamity on someone if they had done some serious evil. And by the same misjudgment they decided that they themselves were in good standing with God because things were remaining comfortable and cozy for them (Job 22:20-25). However, they found out differently later on when God showed up and reproved their foolishness (Job 42:7,8).

The reality is that we can’t judge anyone or anything according to what is going on in things pertaining to this life, though it is mighty tempting sometimes to do so. The only ‘righteous judgment’ we can make on anything is whatever God’s Spirit reveals to us, if it does. If there is no revelation, then it is a very safe thing to wait until there is. If someone is hurting in some way, we should be of a spirit and nature to want to lift them up and help, not busying ourselves trying to figure out why they’re hurting (Gal. 6:1-3). That also goes to the following admonition of Jesus: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye" (Mat. 7:1-5). The ‘beam’ in this passage is actually an unmerciful spirit that is more concerned about finding out what is ‘wrong’ with someone, than it is about helping someone in need. This is the problem that Job’s friends had. They were very grieved for him and with him at the beginning, but their pity eroded quickly (Job 2:11-13; Job 4:1-9). All I can think of is "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Mat. 5:7). Friend, it’s certain that we want to stay away from the flip side of that saying. God bless.