REPOST FROM AUGUST 10, 2026

 Mary Lynne Webb

August 10

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Is there a book of the Bible that you dread reading? Mine is the book of Job. Here’s why. 

Job 42:7-8

New International Version

7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”

So there are big chunks of this book that made God mad at Job’s friends. How do I know what to believe and what are the lies and misunderstandings of Job’s friends?  In my reading of scripture, I came to Job about a week ago. I just stared at the first page for a while, then turned over to the last chapters where God does the speaking. I needed to reaffirm what God said before I read what Job’s friends said. 

This is why it is so important that we study all of scripture, not just the ones that are easy. How do the things that Job’s friends say compare with other scripture? That’s the only way to separate truth from error. I ask myself why scripture includes what Job’s friends say. Is it because they represent the same thoughts that you and I have? Do their words make us confront our own misguided understanding? Have you ever heard someone comment on a hardship or tragedy that has happened to someone they know by saying, “It couldn’t have happened to a better person.” We are often callous, self-centered and trust in ourselves before we trust in God’s sovereignty. That’s Job’s friends. That’s us.

(unless in a separate paragraph and cited with a scripture reference, the following quotes are my Arkansasized paraphrase)

Eliphaz is the first to speak. In verse 2 he basically says, “Don’t take this the wrong way but…” In verses 3-4 he says what we already know about Job. This part is true. Job has given encouragement to those who are struggling. He has supported those who were weak in their faith. His faith and his wisdom have strengthened others in their walk with God. So far, so good, right? Then in verses 5-6, Eliphaz starts his “mean girl” conversation. “You encouraged others but when you suffer, you complain and can’t believe this happened to you. “ Verse 6 sounds like sarcasm to me. “Didn’t you put your trust in God? Didn’t you believe that your hope was in living with integrity before God?” Verse 7: “ You know, don’t you, that no one who is innocent persisted or suffered like you are suffering? If you were upright and in right standing with God, these things would not be happening to you.” Verses 8-11: “I’ve been around for a while and I’ve seen it many times. God punishes the wicked. God is punishing you because you are wicked. Verses 12-21: “I had a dream that scared me to death. I saw a spirit but I tell you what it looked like, but I was terrified. Then it spoke to me. It told me that God doesn’t even trust the angels, much less humans. People live and die, yet never obtain wisdom.” 

What does the whole of scripture say about Eliphaz’s statements? 

Job had done what Paul told the Thessalonians to do.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

New International Version

14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Does scripture teach that those who are righteous, those justified by the blood of Jesus, will not endure suffering? Absolutely not.

Jesus told His disciples that they would have His Peace even in their suffering.

John 16:33

Holman Christian Standard Bible

33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

Romans 8:16-18

Holman Christian Standard Bible

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that[a] we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Philippians 1:28-30

Holman Christian Standard Bible

28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your deliverance—and this is from God. 29 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, 30 having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Philippians 3:10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

10 My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

2 Timothy 2:3

Holman Christian Standard Bible

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

James 1:2-3

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Two questions about God’s wrath. Does He punish the wicked? Are we as partakers in Christ subject to His wrath?

God will punish those who have not repented and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

John 3:35-36

Holman Christian Standard Bible

35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Romans 1:18

Holman Christian Standard Bible

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,

Romans 2:4-6

Holman Christian Standard Bible

4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing[a] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works:[b]

John 3:16-20

Holman Christian Standard Bible

16 “For God loved the world in this way:[a] He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it,[b] so that his deeds may not be exposed.

Are believers subject to God’s wrath? No, we are not.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

8 But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

Do all men die? Because of Adam’s disobedience, we all die. When the rapture (that word is not used in scripture) those who are alive will not die but will join with those who have died to be with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:21-23

Holman Christian Standard Bible

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Holman Christian Standard Bible

15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:[a] We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over[b] those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[c] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

What does scripture teach about wisdom from God?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

New American Standard Bible

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who [a]are perishing, but to us who [b]are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the understanding of those who have understanding, I will confound.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God [c]was pleased through the foolishness of the [d]message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for [e]signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach [f]Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26 For [g]consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to [h]the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the [i]insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no [j]human may boast before God. 30 But it is [k]due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, [l]and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Holman Christian Standard Bible

6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written:

What eye did not see and ear did not hear,

and what never entered the human mind—

God prepared this for those who love Him.[a]

10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts[b] of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts[c] of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.[d] 14 But the unbeliever[e] does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated[f] spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate[g] everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated[h] by anyone. 16 For

who has known the Lord’s mind,

that he may instruct Him?[i]

But we have the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 1:7-9

Holman Christian Standard Bible

7 We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him

Ephesians 1:16-18

Holman Christian Standard Bible

16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,[a] would give you a spirit[b] of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the perception of your mind[c] may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

Colossians 2:2-4

Holman Christian Standard Bible

2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.[a] 3 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.

James 1:5-6

New Living Translation

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.

As much as I dread reading the book of Job, I can learn from it when I look at the words of Job’s friends (with friends like that, who needs enemies, right?) I can read them knowing that God put these words in scripture for a purpose.