Our Jobian Paragraph today is rather lengthy, for a Web post anyway. And God is still speaking, but this time not to Job himself. Do you remember the three “friends” Job had?

Listen to this. “And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:7-10

Wow!

Full of information, this Text.

I can’t remember anywhere God’s “wrath” was specifically said to rise against Job. Although Job “thought” God was angry at him. God never said so, never agreed. BUT IN JOB 42:7 GOD’S WRATH IS CLEARLY PRONOUNCED ON ELIPHAZ AND BILDAD AND ZOPHAR!

In fact, here God declares that Job has spoken right things!

Notice too that these 3 men are told to “offer up” for themselves an offering to God, a burnt offering! Folks, this could not have been done in the days after Moses, after the giving of the Law, when an official priesthood existed in Israel. Because the priests would have handled, sacrificed such burnt offerings! Thus I suggest the Book of Job at least predates Moses! (Probably it was written, Job lived, as far back as Abraham, around 2,000 BC.)

Wow!

Then look. God had NO DOUBT that Job would pray for these men, even though they had verbally attacked him time and time again! Yet Jesus had not yet commanded: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 (But the same Holy Spirit of the New Testament, the Sermon on the Mount era was quite active in Job’s life as well!)

Job prayed!

He must have been quite a prayer warrior!

The Prophet Ezekiel sure thought so, listing Job along side Noah and Daniel as men of power with God! See Ezekiel 14:14 and again Ezekiel 14:20, twice!

Furthermore, God here accused the trio of “judges” who so mistreated Job … of being “foolish men!” Men of “folly!” Yet I remind you God never lodged such an accusation against Job!

Maybe Job was a little too “assertive” a few times, but in no way “foolish!”

Yes, here we also learn that God “accepted” Job, a Hebrew verb that means “lifted up.” It is spelled “nasa,” the verb. Lifted him up out of the dunghill, out of the ashes? But clearly in many other ways too.

Maybe praying for those “hypocrites” ended the contest with Satan!

Because God immediately “turned the captivity” of Job! Released Job from the clutches of Satanic prowess. Restored to Job … more than he ever had before the battle began!

What a “turn” of events!

No wonder James in the New Testament writes about the “end of the Lord’s dealings with Job,” the final chapter of the story! It is glorious. “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11, Amen!

God truly saves the BEST until LAST!

Still, I need another Lesson to complete our study of Job, maybe even two more.

Joyfully this morning …

Dr. Mike Bagwell