Will You Be Annoyed?

Ugh, some people (and the problem with easy answers).

Today we first hear from Job’s friend, Eliphaz. I already noted that Job’s friends did him well - they showed up in his loss, stayed with him as he suffered, and didn’t say a word for a week. This was good and I want to acknowledge that each of the three friends - Eliphaz, included - was a part of this.

I also want to acknowledge that it is very easy to assume and say what Eliphaz concludes. It’s human nature to demand reason, to make an effort to neatly assign culpability - “This happened and so therefore the universe must have called for it.”

More precisely, in simple Christian terms, it actually seems faithful to conclude that, with such powerful situations, “God must have been involved.” In fact, scripture often leans this way. Whether it’s Moses’ inability to see the Promised Land because he disobeyed, or Miriam’s sickness after her own sin in Numbers 12, or Ananias and Sapphira’s death after dishonesty, there is plenty of example in scripture where God acted very specifically because of someone’s sinfulness.

But…just because it happens does not mean that it is the rule. And most importantly, for Christians, the story of Jesus says something very, very different. (And actually, as we’ll see, the book of Job eventually does, too.)

In the meantime, here we sit, having to listen to Eliphaz’s cliché-filled speeches. He is not of ill-will. He’s just wrong.

Yes, Eliphaz, we will be annoyed.

Simeon and Anna provide quite the contrast. I really, really want to meet them. These are the people I want in my life. They are deeply faithful. They probably look ignorant to many who come across them. Yet they are unassuming, innocent, and so very wise.

Luke 2:21-38

When eight days had passed, Jesus’ parents circumcised him and gave him the name Jesus. This was the name given to him by the angel before he was conceived. When the time came for their ritual cleansing, in accordance with the Law from Moses, they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (It’s written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be dedicated to the Lord.”) They offered a sacrifice in keeping with what’s stated in the Law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,

“Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word,
because my eyes have seen your salvation.
You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.
It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and a glory for your people Israel.”

His father and mother were amazed by what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your innermost being too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who belonged to the tribe of Asher. She was very old. After she married, she lived with her husband for seven years. She was now an 84-year-old widow. She never left the temple area but worshipped God with fasting and prayer night and day. She approached at that very moment and began to praise God and to speak about Jesus to everyone who was looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Job 4

Then Eliphaz, a native of Teman, responded:

If one tries to answer you, will you be annoyed?
But who can hold words back?
Look, you’ve instructed many
and given strength to drooping hands.
Your words have raised up the falling;
you’ve steadied failing knees.
But now it comes to you, and you are dismayed;
it has struck you, and you are frightened.
Isn’t your religion the source of your confidence;
the integrity of your conduct, the source of your hope?

Think! What innocent person has ever perished?
When have those who do the right thing been destroyed?
As I’ve observed, those who plow sin
and sow trouble will harvest it.
When God breathes deeply, they perish;
by a breath of his nostril they are annihilated.
The roar of a lion and snarl of the king of beasts—
yet the teeth of lions are shattered;
the lion perishes without prey,
and its cubs are scattered.

But a word sneaked up on me;
my ears caught a hint of it.
In profound thoughts, visions of night,
when deep sleep falls on people,
fear and dread struck me;
all of my bones shook.
A breeze swept by my face;
the hair of my skin bristled.
It stopped. I didn’t recognize its visible form,
although a figure was in front of my eyes.
Silence! Then I heard a voice:
“Can a human be more righteous than God,
a person purer than their maker?”

If he doesn’t trust his servants
and levels a charge against his messengers,
how much less those who dwell in houses of clay,
whose foundations are in dust,
and who are crushed like a moth?
They are smashed between morning and evening;
they perish forever without anyone knowing.
Isn’t their tent cord pulled up?
They die without wisdom.

Prayer

God,

I loved the blizzard yesterday. Thank you.
I also love the sun so brightly shining on me today. Thank you.

Job says that you “give and take away,” so, “Blessed be your name.” I feel like I want to reject this, God. Not the blessing, but the conclusive assumption that you’re behind every gain and every loss. It just can’t be true. Am I ignorant to it all?

I mean, I’m the one who started this prayer thanking you for a blizzard and the sun. As if you did it. Did you? Does that mean you also create the destructive hurricanes that kill people? See…it’s easy to mess this all up.

So I do choose to bless you, to bless your name. I mean, I want to do that. In all your creativity, goodness, love, and compassion. So help me, God.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.