Doing what is right before God
After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the Lord commanded them, and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! Job 42:7-10
When Job realized that he doubted God of His faithfulness because of what he has been through, he repented. “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance” (Job 42:5-6). God accepted Job’s repentance but the three men that tried to console Job were rebuked. They were reprimanded by God because they spoke inaccurately of God and Job. They were the ones that continued to banter Job about his faith to God. They were trying to have him doubt God. They were able to get through to Job that at one point Job thought and said, “Why waste time trying to please God?” (Job 34:9). Their continued accusation of Job and questioning of God’s ways resulted to Job’s discouragements (read 16:2; 17:1, 2; 19:2, 3). The three men presented a false brand of orthodoxy and in their presumed attitude of piety misled Job that resulted in him doubting God. But God’s convictions to Job prevailed that he repented and returned to God. He prayed and asked God for forgiveness. God also used Elihu, Job’s friend (chapters 32-37), to explain to him the purpose of suffering for those who believe in God. “...by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity.... Be on guard! Turn back from evil, for God sent this suffering to keep you from a life of evil.” (Job 36:15, 21). It is important for a follower of God to listen to godly counsel. Satan uses false teachings to mislead people in believing and obeying the one true God. He deceived Adam and Eve by planting doubt on their mind regarding a clear command from God. “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). So be very careful on taking advice especially if this will take you away from trusting what God said. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (Psalm 1:1, 2).
Blessings.
