Religious Answers to a Gospel Issue

Job 8:3–7 (ESV) Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? 4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression. 5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy, 6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation. 7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.

It's amazing how fast these consoling friends turn into the worst people in Job's life. Now Bildad's first speech comes to us with an accusation that Job's children sinned and God judged them. Then he seems completely out of touch when he considers Job's beginning "small" (See verse 7).

A quick glance back to the first chapter and description of Job reminds us that he was great in the land and that he regularly offered sacrifices for the sins his children "may" have committed. But Bildad encapsulates the truth that real friends listen quickly instead of speaking quickly. 

The problem with Job's friends is this: these men continue to present religious answers to a Gospel issue. Religion is often made up of man-made concepts and precepts that have little to do with the glorious Gospel of God. Interestingly, Bildad's name means, "son of contention." He represents well what man-made ideas about God are all about - contention.

Bildad, like Eliphaz before him lays the blame solely at Job's feet for all his misfortune:

Job 8:11–13 (ESV) “Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? 12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. 13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.

The picturesque language is that of Job laying the groundwork for turmoil in his life through sin. The sins of Job are the march where the papyrus of trouble has grown. 

How many times do we do this with the terrible experiences of our own lives? We experience trouble and go flipping through the catalog of our behavior over the last few weeks to determine what we did wrong to deserve this. And while sin in our lives does reap a harvest of trouble, we are demanded once again to consider an alternative here because of Job's experience.

First, not every trouble is born out of sin. Sometimes, it's the sins of others that cause us trouble. Sometimes it's the nature of this fallen creation - such as Earthquakes, fires, and other disasters. And sometimes the trouble is a test - as here with Job. Can we trust in the test? 

The answers we need in the testing of our faith are found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the true Job who suffered for the sins of others. He faced the wrath of God so that we would not. While our sins deserved what Job received, Jesus received them instead. 

Now, this is a terribly difficult concept for religious people. Look at how Bildad misses it in the final words of his first speech:

Job 8:20–22 (ESV) “Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. 22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

God did reject a blameless man. On that cross 2000 years ago Jesus was forsaken so that we could be accepted. 

Again, a difficult concept that counters religious people who believe they deserve a good life for their good living. And this is why Jesus is called the stone of stumbling and the cornerstone of God's house. All who come to Him either stumble over their self-righteousness to be damned or lean on His righteousness to be saved.

Job is winnowing out the truth and separating the religious from the righteous by faith.