Job 32 – 34 and Gun Games

Job 32 – 34

Job’s three friends (Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite) finally give up trying to convince Job “because he kept insisting on his innocence.” However, Job has another friend or acquaintance, Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, who is not only angry at Job because Job refuses to admit he has sinned, but is also angry at Job’s three friends for making “God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments.”

He tears into the three friends, saying he could do it better. And he certainly tries. He asks Job to make his case and take his stand. He asserts that God will forgive and restore Job and rescue him from the grave if he will only admit his sin and repent. He speaks of God receiving the penitent with joy and restoring him to good standing. Of course, his argument is basically the same as the other three: Job is suffering because of his sin. In other word, if you live well, you will do well. If you don’t, you won’t.

Elihu apparently hasn’t paid attention to Job’s life. He speaks of Job’s “thirst for irreverent talk” and how he “chooses evil people as companions” and “spends his time with wicked men.” He paints a picture of the Almighty as one who “watches how people live” and “sees everything they do.” He then passes judgment on Job saying “you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect and you speak many angry words against God.”

Have you ever been guilty of judging someone in the way Elihu judged Job? Yes, we are supposed to discern between good and evil and, of course, choose to do good. I also think we should recognize evil that others do, but it is up to God to pass judgment and deal with it. We certainly shouldn’t assume someone is suffering because they are guilty of something.

Tomorrow, in Job 35 – 37, we’ll hear some more from Elihu.

Gun Games by Faye Kellerman

Yesterday, I downloaded Faye Kellerman’s latest Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novel called Gun Games. I started listening to it as soon as I downloaded it, took some time out to watch The Middle, Suburgatory, and Harry’s Law then started listening again. At 5 this  morning, I turned off the book and slept until 7:30 then listened until it was done. She is such a great writer; all of the books I have read of hers have been page turners. Her character development is flawless. Looking for a good read, this is one of them, but you might really want to start with her first and read them in order. By the time you are done, you will probably consider yourself part of the Decker/Lazarus family.

Until next time…