Job 15 | Wayfarer

What do you know that we do not know?
What insights do you have that we do not have?
Job 15:9 (NIV)

Every morning when I peruse the news of the day, I observe corruption and deceit in the halls of human power brokers. Powerful and wealthy individuals rig systems for their personal gain of more power and wealth, then use their power to escape being investigated or justly held accountable. They make laws, regulations, and rules for the masses that they shamelessly break themselves. This is the way the world works, and it happens on both sides of the proverbial political aisle as well as in the c-suites of business and the not-so-hallowed halls of religion.

I share this rather cynical observation in response to today’s chapter, in which we begin a second round of discourses from Job’s three friends. Eli once again leads off and he chastises Job for questioning God or the suffering he is enduring. When Eli rhetorically asks Job, “What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have?” My spirit rushed to Job’s defense.

Suffering, Eli. Job knows suffering on a level you can’t even fathom. Turn and look at his emaciated body covered in festering sores. Have you suffered like this ever in your life, Eli? When did all of your children die in one day? Maybe cut your friend a little slack. You accuse Job of pride and lack of piety, but it’s you, Eli, who appear to lack humility, gentleness, and kindness in my eyes.

Eli goes on to basically repeat himself from his first discourse. He is stuck on one side of the Santa Clause: the wicked always suffer so Job must, therefore, be wicked in some way to be suffering this fate.

I don’t know what life was like in Job and Eli’s day, but in today’s world the wicked don’t always suffer. Perhaps there is negative spiritual, relational, and mental consequences of their sins, but I can point to plenty of examples of people who have done quite well in their wickedness from and earthly perspective. They certainly don’t suffer anything like what Job is experiencing.

One of the commentaries I read this morning observed that as long as Eli is myopically focused on his insistence that the wicked suffer God’s wrath, he avoids having to address Job’s core argument: sometimes the innocent suffer unjustly.

In the quiet this morning, I find myself pondering the two core questions that the story of Job has presented to humans for thousands of years. Why is it that sometimes the innocent suffer unjustly? Why is it that sometimes the wicked prosper unjustly? To deny the truth behind either question, as Eli does, one must put on mental blinders and ignore a host of examples from the daily headlines and all of human history.

I refuse to wear those blinders. I prefer to wrestle with the questions. I prefer to gently and kindly empathize with those who unjustly suffer. I prefer to stand and cry out for justice for the wicked who use their wealth and power to gain more wealth and power so as to escape accountability for their wickedness.

At the same time, I embrace the spiritual reality that Jesus taught. Being His obedient disciple does not exempt me from suffering, nor does it assure me of prosperity. Being an obedient disciple of Jesus teaches me to be content with my earthly circumstances and focus myself on those things that matter eternally. Paul listed them: faith, hope, and love. The most important being love.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.

What do you know that we do not know?
What insights do you have that we do not have?
Job 15:9 (NIV)

The journey for Wendy and me to try and conceive a child was a long one. I can’t even recount in a simple summary how much was involved medically, emotionally, and relationally for both of us. As a blogger and active participant in social media I found myself, in the early stages of the process, sharing in broad terms and hints what we were going through. It didn’t take me long to stop, to close in, and to begin withholding information from any but the most intimate of friends. I quickly learned that the most well-intentioned people can say some of the most hurtful things. People who speak out of ignorance say ignorant things.

I thought about that this morning as I read the words of Eliphaz, who brings his next argument to the debate between Job and his friends. Eli’s anger is rising. He is uncomfortable with the questions Job is asking and his discomfort motivates him to go on the attack. I was struck when I came to the question above. My playwright and actor’s brain began to script Job’s thoughts.

What do you know that we do not know?

“Are you kidding me, Eli? Let’s start with with the obvious. Last I knew, your children were living and healthy. Do you know what it’s like to lose all of your children in the blink of an eye? Have you gone through that? Do you even have an f-ing CLUE what it feels like to receive the gut-punch news telling you that your children, ALL OF THEM, are dead?

“When was the last time you found health gone and puss-seeping sores all over your body, Eli? I don’t remember visiting you on an ash heap.

“Oh, and please tell me about the time you lost your life savings and everything for which you toiled your entire life! If so, please share. If not, then shut up.

“What do I know that you don’t know? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!”

One of the things I learned through our journey was the importance of keeping my mouth shut and my ears open with friends and loved ones who are going through trials I have never experienced. Even when I have experienced some of the same or similar things, I remind myself in the presence of the suffering that it’s not about me. My role is to quietly step in, to be present, to listen, and to love. Those who are walking the path of suffering know a present reality of which I am completely ignorant. I need to respect that.