Job 36:21: "Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity, for that is why you have been tested by affliction."
As I read through Job, I recognize that Job's friends say many accusatory things about him. They also purported to know God's decision over Job and why he is suffering, which we get insight into and can categorically declare the friends wrong in their theology. However, sprinkled throughout their oratory are some truthful insights to glean. The last friend, Elihu, addresses the purpose of God testing people. And while handling much of what any of the four friends say with an open hand, there are proposals that Scripture confirms about God, and we must close our hands around.
The passage in Job 36:21 is powerful. "Be careful that you do not turn to iniquity." I will change the ending, but not the context, with "while being tested or going through a trial." From the Old Testament to the New Testament, testing is described in this way a myriad of times. Elihu states the negative, but in Deuteronomy 8:2, the same truth is stated in the affirmative. "Remember how the LORD your God led you in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands." All that Israel went through in the wilderness was a choice to "turn to iniquity" or "keep His commands." It is as simple as that. This caveat must be added; nothing is simple about what they went through. The choice of how to handle things was black or white.
Returning to Elihu's words, I will add my "Cookie-ism." I see these specific words in 36:21, not all he said, as God speaking to Job through this "friend" and cautioning him not to give up now, stay the course, and don't sin against me. I know this is not easy." There are those moments when facing difficulty and looking for answers when someone says something that is the perfect encouragement. They have no clue they are saying things that speak life to your soul at the right moment. You give it up to God's comfort in your storm. The assurance of His presence in the miasma that is your trial. Through all the condemnation spewing from Elihu's mouth, God interrupts to encourage. With that thought, I will sidebar for a paragraph. It is necessary.
Today's Christian community is beholding to the messenger's tone, tenor, and ideation. We excuse folks for not hearing from God through a person when words aren't perfectly aligned with the listener's preference. We argue with one another about how admonishment should be delivered. We look at outcomes that may not be what was prayed for and conclude someone might have been addressed in a relatively less-than-loving way. For some reason we forget people who deny truth are responsible for that. They can point to a myriad of excuses, but they alone are responsible. I am not saying that those who love God should speak arrogantly or blast people out of the water when sharing the Truth with others. Just to be clear, grace is not a tone. Grace delivers the theology of God's forgiveness to those, like us, who do not deserve it. I added that because we say, "folks did not speak that truth with grace," as if grace is a category of tone in which things must be delivered. We can see in Job's story that though his friends' message was crushing, God could still bring life to Job's soul in these peek-a-boo moments. God can be found in whomever the messenger is when He wants to get someone's attention, whether to bring reproof or encouragement. I'm sure you'll understand if I say, "Cock-a-doodle-do." If your unfamiliar with the story, that represents God getting Peter's attention through a rooster. I will end this sidebar with this warning to those who are careless with their words or have wrong motives, "we are responsible for our words and our motives "Matthew 12:36; Proverbs 16:2. God may still use the message, but the messenger is accountable to Him.
Back to topic. The book of James shares the reality that Elihu offered Job, and Moses told Israel about "iniquity or loyalty" in testing. In 1:12-15, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God:' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." That is a lot to grapple with, but it can be broken down to this. God does test His children. That can be concluded by reading the book of Job and the entire story of Israel from Exodus to Deuteronomy. These circumstances are "to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart."
Everyone can find themselves turning to iniquity, not because God tempts us to sin, but because instead of proving ourselves loyal, we are desperate to be relieved of our pain, and as Job's wife says so eloquently, "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die." Our way of doing this is drawing away from God by desires that do not honor Him. We follow an enticing, ungodly rescue mission to sin, and "sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." We may have relieved ourselves from some suffering, but we've brought death into our lives. We remain immature in our faith, and it becomes easier to stray or not abide on The Vine, Matthew 13:21. There are serious consequences, not to scare anyone, so that we may understand the cost of not standing firm, no matter the difficulty. If anyone "had the right to blame God," reading Job's story would cause us to conclude that he did. James tells us we cannot blame God if we fall into the temptation of finding our manufactured way of escape and "turn to iniquity."
Just like I believe God used Elihu to send encouragement, in a moment during his rant against Job, our encouragement "that you do not turn to iniquity" is throughout the Bible. We can endure without iniquity as 1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be (tested) beyond what you are able, but with the (test) will also make the way of escape; that you may be able to bear it."
Job did not know his difficulties were at an end. We never know how long a trial may be for us. Israel testing was on and off throughout their 40 years. The testing started when they left Egypt and faced the Red Sea. Bearing undering testing is our faithfulness and loyalty to God. If we choose "iniquity," as Elihu calls it, or "sin," as James states, we own that and its consequences. Job's amazing example was to trust that "God is faithful." That is also Paul's summation of hope we can adopt. Just as Job was declared blameless before his trial, he'd remain blameless. There were theological beliefs that had to be disabused. Job's example helps us understand we "may be able to bear it."
Encouragement comes from many places and people: those nice to us, those who are angry at us, bulletin boards, and messages as we sit in service on Sundays. Today, however, we have the benefit of The Scriptures being available in our homes and on our phones, so we can go right to those pages in times of hardship and learn "Why you have been tested by affliction."
Comments