Austin Bible Church
Believers must receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and then they must grow spiritually. In growing spiritually to maturity, the believer must be tested many times. Most people today grow from physical babyhood to maturity at about 20 years of age. A certain amount of testing is allotted to them which is common to man. Job 1:1; 1 Cor. 10:13.
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” (Job 1:1, NASB)
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, NASB)
The only way of escape or handling the testing is through application of Bible doctrine while filled with God the Holy Spirit. The length of the testing is more severe than the intensity of testing. Job was able to take robbery, arson, economic collapse, loss of children, health and rapport with the wife, but the test of his interpersonal relationships with other men was the most difficult.
Men tend to be aggressive. They initiate and tend to be dogmatic and dislike being under another’s authority. They don’t like to be bulldogged, coerced, or embarrassed. Once crossed, they never forget. For a man to be grace oriented is all about the epignosis Bible doctrine in their soul. He does not lose his manhood or headship the Bible doctrine way. Therefore, men will tend to be inflexible and condemnatory.
When Job became depressed from the intensity of his testing, he was disoriented to the plan of God. Job 3:1-12. He became desirous for oblivion. Job 3:13-19. He became fearful. Job 3:20-25.
“Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said, "Let the day perish on which I was to be born, And the night which said, 'A boy is conceived.'” (Job 3:1-3, NASB)
“"Why did I not die at birth, Come forth from the womb and expire?” (Job 3:11, NASB)
“"For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest,” (Job 3:13, NASB)
“"Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, As infants that never saw light. "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.” (Job 3:16-17, NASB)
“"Why is light given to him who suffers, And life to the bitter of soul, Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,” (Job 3:20-21, NASB)
“"Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in? "For my groaning comes at the sight of my food, And my cries pour out like water. "For what I fear comes upon me, And what I dread befalls me.” (Job 3:23-25, NASB)
Eliphaz when conversing, misapplied Bible doctrine and assumed to have the answers. He considered Job to be a know-it-all. He was chastisement conscious, rather than Christ-conscious. Job 4:17; Job 4; Job 5.
“"According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it. "By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.” (Job 4:8-9, NASB)
“'Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” (Job 4:17, NASB)
“"For affliction does not come from the dust, Nor does trouble sprout from the ground, For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward. "But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God;” (Job 5:6-8, NASB)
“"Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. "For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.” (Job 5:17-18, NASB)
Bildad when conversing, had faulty observation. He also had a faulty conclusion and was a hypocrite by claiming to be spiritually mature when he wasn’t. Job 8:2; Job 8:13.
“"How long will you say these things, And the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?” (Job 8:2, NASB)
“"So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish,” (Job 8:13, NASB)
Zophar when conversing, spoke for God and was presumptuous. He was sin-centered. He felt that Job needed to confess his sins to God. Job 11:5-6; Job 11:14.
“"But would that God might speak, And open His lips against you, And show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your iniquity.” (Job 11:5-6, NASB)
“If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;” (Job 11:14, NASB)
The answer is to get Bible doctrine under the proper God-ordained plan and specifically understand the Angelic Conflict. Job 40:6-7. See category on Undeserved Suffering, Old Testament Examples.
“Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said, "Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.” (Job 40:6-7, NASB)