Chapter 4

Eliphazs first speech

v1 Then Eliphaz, who belonged to the people called Temanites, replied. He said: v2 Job, I do not want to upset you. But I want to say something. And this is an important matter. Chapter 4 Verses 1-2 Jobs words upset Eliphaz. And Jobs troubles also upset Eliphaz. Eliphaz simply believed that a good person should have a good life. And Eliphaz thought that an evil person should have a terrible life. So, when Eliphaz saw Jobs troubles, Eliphaz had no explanation. Eliphaz was sure that Job was a good man. But Job was suffering the troubles that an evil person deserves. Eliphaz did not know that the devil caused Jobs troubles. And Eliphaz did not realise that God permitted the devil to test Job. A good man should have hope v3 Think about this point! You have taught many people. You have helped weak people. v4 By your words, you have saved people from great dangers. And you have encouraged weak people. v5 But now, you yourself suffer many troubles. And you become weak. Troubles affect you. And your troubles upset you. v6 But you are a holy man. So, you should be confident. And you are a good man. So, you should have hope. Verses 3-4 At first, Eliphaz believed that Job was a good man. (Later, Eliphaz would change his opinion (Job chapter 22).) Perhaps Eliphaz heard about Jobs good deeds (Job 29:11-17). Perhaps Job had even helped Eliphaz. Verses 5-6 Jobs speech in Job chapter 3 was a very sad speech. And this speech upset Eliphaz. Eliphaz wanted Job to be happy. Christians are glad people, because we have good news (Philippians 4:4). But sometimes we cannot be happy (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Mark 2:18-20). We need Gods help and comfort (James 1:13-15; Matthew 5:4). Eliphaz was a patient man (Job 2:13). But he spoke too soon. Job needed Eliphazs sympathy. And Job needed Eliphazs friendship. Instead, Eliphaz told Job to be happy. And Eliphazs words seemed cruel to Job (Proverbs 25:20). But Eliphazs advice in verse 6 was sensible. In chapter 3, Job hardly thought about God. Job was only thinking about himself. So, Job had no hope. Instead, Job wanted to die. Job could be confident because he was a holy man. And Job could have hope, because God cares for good people. Eliphazs ideas about the fate of evil men v7 Think about this! An innocent man does not suffer. A good man does not die. v8 I have seen that evil men suffer. In fact, they suffer from the troubles that they themselves cause. v9 So, God punishes them. God is angry. So, he kills them.

v10 These men are like old lions, without teeth. Such lions may roar. v11 But the lions will die, because they cannot attack other animals. And the young lions will wander away. Verses 7-9 Eliphaz was partly right. God punishes evil people. And God protects good people. But Eliphazs thoughts were too simple. Job was suffering. But Job was an innocent man. So, Eliphazs words could not help Job. Instead, Eliphazs words upset Job. Many good people suffer now, on this earth. But they will not suffer in heaven (Revelation 21:14). Some evil people are successful on this earth. But nobody will be successful in hell. God knows everybodys thoughts. God sees our secret plans. And God is a fair judge. God does not always punish evil people immediately, because God is kind. God does not want anybody to suffer in hell. God sent Jesus to suffer the punishment for our evil deeds. And God will forgive us. So, we must confess our evil deeds to God. And we must trust God. God does not always rescue good people immediately. Sometimes a good person will suffer, like Job. That person should be patient (James 5:11). Perhaps God is testing that person. Or perhaps God is teaching that person. God is like a father who teaches his children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Or perhaps that persons troubles are the work of evil people (Matthew 5:11-12). God knows about all these things. God cares about us. And God is making us perfect (Job 23:10; 1 Corinthians 13:10-12). Verses 10-11 Eliphaz argued that God punishes evil men. Eliphaz said that evil men are like angry lions. These lions seem terrible. But really, they are hopeless, because they have no teeth. So evil men seem terrible, but really, they are hopeless. God did not agree with Eliphazs opinion about lions. In Job 38:39-40, God reminded the men that he created lions. And God provides food, even for lions. The lions do not need to search for food. The lions can wait in their home. God will provide their food. God even cares about evil people. God provides rain, so that their crops will grow (Matthew 5:45). And God sent Jesus to die for evil people, so that God can forgive their evil deeds (Romans 5:8). Eliphazs strange dream v12 I heard a secret whisper. v13 And I saw a strange dream. It happened by night, when men sleep deeply. v14 I was so afraid! Even my bones were shaking! v15 I saw a spirit. My hairs stood up. v16 The spirit stopped. But I could not recognise it. I saw its shape. And I heard its quiet voice. v17 The spirit said, Men are so weak! Nobody is better than God. Even strong men are not innocent. God, who made them, is their judge. v18 God does not trust his servants. God even accuses his servants in heaven. v19 And men are much worse. The bodies of men are like mud huts. And their bodies belong in the earth. Men die like insects. v20 Men, like insects, die in a single day. Nobody notices their deaths. And they will not live again. v21 They fall, like a tent with no strings to hold it. And they die without wisdom. Verses 12-14

Eliphaz described a strange dream. This dream frightened him. We do not know whether the dream came from God. The dream taught an important lesson to Eliphaz. But the dream seems only partly correct. Many people have strange experiences. And these experiences may impress these people greatly. But such people should test their experiences (1 John 4:1). Such people must not believe everything. Some strange experiences come from God. Other experiences may come from our own minds. And some are from the devil. Our experiences should teach us to love God. They should encourage us to trust the Bible. And they should teach the truth about Jesus (1 John 4:2-3). Verses 15-16 The Bible describes good spirits and evil spirits. Good spirits come from God. They teach us the truth about God. God sends them to help us. Good spirits are probably the same as angels (Gods servants in heaven). Evil spirits come from the devil. They are also called demons. Like the devil, demons are enemies of God. Perhaps Eliphaz did see a spirit. But perhaps he imagined it. Most dreams mean nothing. Verse 17 This verse is correct. God is the judge of everyone. A person may be weak or strong. But everyone is guilty in Gods opinion. Everybody refuses to obey Gods law (Romans 3:23; Psalm 53:3; Proverbs 20:9; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 1:8). But the good news is that God still loves us. God sent Jesus to die for us. We must confess our evil deeds to God. Then God will forgive us. Verse 18 Eliphaz heard the words in verses 18-21. The spirit in his dream spoke these words. But this verse is wrong. God does trust his servants. God trusted Job in Job 1:8. And God was proud that Job still served him (Job 2:3). Verse 19 See Genesis 2:7 and Genesis 3:19. God made mans body from the soil. And the body returns to the soil when the man dies. Verses 20-21 This is wrong. God knows when a man dies. And God cares about his people (Psalm 116:16). God even notices when a little bird dies (Matthew 10:29-31). A dead man will live again. Death is not the end. The Bible teaches this lesson clearly. Everybody who trusts God will go to heaven. Heaven is a wonderful place (John 14:2-3; Revelation chapter 21). Jesus became alive again after his death. And we will also live again in heaven, always (1 Corinthians chapter 15). But people who refuse to obey God will also live after their death. God will be their judge. Their fate will be terrible (Revelation 20:11-15). See Luke 16:19-31. This passage is important. Trust God now! The Bible teaches that you must invite God into your life now. Do not delay!