Young Eli's Approach (CaD Job 33) – Wayfarer
“But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words—
Job 33:8 (NIV)
In my vocational career, I do a lot of coaching and training in the subjects of customer communication and customer service. The most requested topic, by far, is how to handle angry and escalated customers. I always begin addressing the topic with a simple truth that must be understood: There is no magic formula or simple ingredient that works every time. That said, there are a handful of tactics that can and do help in many situations.
One of the most simple and basic of tactics is to conversationally address the angry customer by name. The use of names in a conversation implies that there is a relationship. When relationships break down, it is common for people to stop addressing one another by name, referring to one another by pronouns or epithets instead. It is easier for some people to rant and and curse to a nameless, disembodied voice over the phone. When names are used then a relationship is implied and the nameless, disembodied voice becomes an actual person to the angry customer on the other end of the phone.
Today’s chapter is the opening of what will be five straight chapters of Eli the younger’s wisdom for Job. He gives Job free reign to respond at the end of today’s chapter. However, Job has stated his closing argument, and he refuses to respond. Young Eli takes this as permission to give Job an earful.
There is something different in the way young Eli addresses Job. Unlike Eli the elder, Bill, and Z, the young man actually speaks directly to Job, addressing him by name. The elder three never addressed Job by name, which is rather fascinating when you think about it. They are likely closer in age to Job and also likely to have experienced more of life with him. One would think that there would be more intimacy between the elder friends and the suffering Job. Perhaps their arm’s length approach hints at their fear of getting too close to Job, as if his suffering might be contagious.
Another subtle difference in the way young Eli approaches Job is his refusal to directly accuse Job of wrongdoing. The elder three friends were convinced that some heinous and hidden sin must be present for God to punish Job and make him suffer. Instead, Eli establishes a pattern in which he addresses and refutes Job’s own words:
“But you have said in my hearing…” (verse 8)
“But I tell you…” (verse 12)
In this, I heard echoes of Jesus’ message on the mountain when He repeatedly used a similar device:
“You have heard that it was said…” (Matthew 5:21)
“But I tell you…” (Matthew 5:22)
What is fascinating as young Eli launches into his discourse is that he claims to have heard Job say things that Job never said. For example, Eli claims that Job said he was “pure and free from sin.” Quite the opposite, Job readily admitted to being a sinner (7:21; 13:26). Job’s claim is that if he did anything to deserve the suffering he is experiencing then he’d like God to tell him what it is.
Young Eli goes on to refute Job’s notion that God is silent. He argues that God can and does speak in various ways. In this the young man is not wrong. He is, however, using a blunt instrument (God is never silent) to address what is a rather surgically precise argument on Job’s part (God has not addressed my specific complaint).
As I sat and meditated on young Eli’s self-proclaimed many words of wisdom, I found myself also contemplating Job’s silence which I find to reflect a very different kind of wisdom. Proverbs 10:19 says, “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.” In the modern day world of social media, there is no lack of words from an infinite number of voices. Increasingly, when I feel compelled to add my words onto the pile, I choose Job’s path of wisdom and simply keep silent.
If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.
Wayfarer 