Job Chapter 22
Please read: Job 22 –
Eliphaz made one last attempt to try to convince Job that he should repent of his unknown and unconfessed sins. Eliphaz believed that Job was shaking his fist at God as if to say, “I know more than you God.” He accuses him of not fearing God and this is why judgement is upon him. When in fact, we know that the opposite is true because God Himself said so.
Job is accused of belittling God and having an attitude that God is so far away that He cannot see the sins of Job. This makes little sense given the fact that that his friends have been with him when Job spoke out loud in prayer to God. Job is not shaking his fist at God, he is simply asking why these bad things have happened to him. Sometimes humans will receive the answer to that question and sometimes they will not. But it is never wrong to ask that question, because in asking there is a movement of faith and trust in God. As long as we do not let bitterness to set in, God always welcomes our questions.
Let's Reflect
1. Eliphaz in verses 5-12 begins to imagine all kinds of sins that Job must have committed. What are some of those suggested sins?
2. Eliphaz is correct in his thinking that a lot of people think that they can get away with doing whatever they want and God cannot touch them. But we learned at the very beginning of this book that Job did not have that attitude. He was a man that continually confessed his sins before God. According to verse 16 what does Eliphaz think happens to the wicked sinners?
3. He also implies that the righteous (good people) are glad when they see that the wicked get what was coming to them. What do the innocent people do to those wicked people who had the attitude that they could sin as they please and not get caught? See verse 19.
4. Eliphaz begs Job to agree with God, repent to God. What would happen if Job heeded his words?
5. He suggests that if he would just confess, he would no longer hang his head in shame, but would be able to do what? See verse 26.
6. Eliphaz says in verse 27 that he should pray to God, confess to God, and he should also do what?
7. If Job would just confess, then all would be well. There would be light, there would be peace and goodness returned to Job’s life. Eliphaz believed that Job suffered from what sin that was preventing him from confessing his sins? See verse 29.
