Job 3-4

In chapter three, Job curses the day he was born. I have never been in this emotional state. Of course I've never experienced what Job did either. Still it's a heartwrenching display of anger, resentment, disappointment and despair. His worst fears have come true. "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."

Then Eliphaz starts to speak. He has to speak. He's heard Job going on and on about his plight and Eliphaz has to break the silence. After all Job has been an encourager up until this point -- perhaps had even helped Eliphaz during a tough time. And the friend tells Job that he should be strengthened by the good life he has led. Then his argument shows it's real direction. In 4:7, he says something which seems odd to me: "Consider now: Who being innocent has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?" It's the old proverb, "You reap what you sew," reconstituted for the occasion. The groundwork for the premise that the three will try to convince Job is being laid -- if you do evil things, God will punish you and since you are obviously being punished, you must repent of what you did. This will be the theme of the next several chapters.