Job Chapter 11
Please read: Job 11 –
If we had to rank the three friends of Job, we surely would have to say that Zophar was the harshest of the three. He seemed to be fed up with Job and his claims of being innocent. He literally blurted out that Job was mocking God. Zophar’s thinking is an example of exactly what is wrong with religion. Religion wants to put man’s deeds on a scale and weigh them to see if he is good or evil. And if those scales tip to the side of evilness then of course there will be consequences to bear. In Zophar’s thinking the things Job has been saying are just empty words and he is tired of hearing them. He actually stated that Job’s “empty words” needed to be judged and he was just the man to judge him.
Zophar continues with giving Job a lesson about God, things he assumes that Job does not know or has conveniently forgotten. This man is just not the type of friend that anyone would want to be by their side when going through a difficult time.
Let's Reflect
1. According to verse 4 what was the accusation that Zophar made against Job?
2. In verses 5 and 6 Zophar draws a terrible conclusion. He concludes that if Job could hear God speak on the subject, he would learn that all that has happened to him was less than he deserved! (Talk about judging!) He thinks that because so much suffering and calamity had fallen on Job, there must have been some incredible terrible sin that Job committed. What did Zophar say about God that was correct in those two verses?
3. Zophar begins a speech about the greatness of God. But in this speech, he implies that Job is what? See verses 11 and 12a.
4. In the final verses of Zophar’s speech, he offers Job the solution he thinks will be Job’s only escape. What does he want Job to do?
5. While it is true that God always forgives a penitent heart, the next “promise” that Zophar claims will be given to Job by God is not true. It is not stated anywhere in the Bible. What does Zophar claim will be Job’s reward for his confession of sin?
If religion does not allow for suffering and pain in this life, then how would we see our solution for our sin problem, our redemption, which was born out of suffering and pain. We would have no room in our religion for our redeemer Jesus Christ.
