Journal Through the Bible: Week 2 Friday

Source
(Sorry, but I couldn't resist a bit of sarcasm)

Job 4:1-5:27

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so do they apply to me?

At first glance there appear to be many promises of God in chapter 5, however since this is NOT God speaking, there are none! Even when the first of Job's three friends, Eliphaz, speaks he is not necessarily delivering a message from God!

For instance, in this speech Eliphaz states his belief that bad things do not happen to good people. We, on the other hand, know this is not true because bad things are happening to the good and honorable Job.

More importantly, Eliphaz tells of the vision he had of a supernatural being that spoke quietly with him in the night (4:12-21). Notice that the being whispers words that seem to be a mockery against both God and men (vv.18,19 "Behold, he [God] put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly [the fallen angels that rebelled against Him]: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? [obviously speaking of people here])

Since Eliphaz seems to have received his message directly from Satan there is nothing that can be taken as a promise in this passage! The words Eliphaz received from the evil spirit were half-truths at best, much like the words the serpent told Eve.

Are there references to Jesus in this passage?

No, but when Eliphaz tells Job to "Call now, if there be any that will answer thee: and to which of the saints [the redeemed of God] will thou turn?" (5:1) we know that the promise of God is quoted in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee..." so even when people (those earthly saints) turn their backs on Job the God of the Universe (as the complete Trinity) was there with Job even though he could not see Him or feel His presence.

Are there references to future events (in the future for us, that is) in this passage?

None that I identified.

Does God make any commands in this passage? If so, to whom? And are they commands that I also must obey?

God does not speak in this passage.

Did you find anything else of interest to you? Please share!