A Last Throw of the Dice (Eliphaz Mark 3)
After Job's outburst the genie is out. Pandora's Box blown open. The true character of the friends emerges. Bildad's cool, rational approach cuts no ice but chills the victim. Zophar tried as best he could but when he got nowhere he sought refuge in 'see-how-much -your-attitude-hurts-me'. Eliphaz will never give up and goes for the jugular — Job's problem is failure to confront his wickedness. Time for a quiet sermonette on repentance (22:21ff.) and if Job thinks (as he does) that he has nothing to repent Eliphaz will tell him. Never trifle with 'an Eliphaz' — he knows he is right and can get nasty if crossed. Frightening 'the sinner' with the flames of hell didn't begin yesterday.
But how realistic are the flames? With no evidence it is difficult to say. Today you might say Job has sinned in that he is part of a sinful community but it would be difficult to establish that in this text, time and culture, and even if it were true would hardly be the moment to embark on it to someone in crisis. Job is no fool and would not be where he is if he could be so easily put off. Job still cherishes his faith in God's fairness, if only he could get through to him.
What his friends miss is that there is more to life than 'answers', certainly not the slick traditional ones on offer. Job simply wants to meet God, argue his case, hear what God has to say and discover what God wants of him. He is a seeker, not a problem case looking for a solution. He knows his God would 'give heed' to him (23:4). What he wants is a face-to-face encounter. Unfortunately he can't find him, and his friends can hardly be blamed if they cannot deliver, but failing that he might have been better served if only he could meet one of God's humble assistants: somebody sympathetic, willing to listen and talk through the problem. Who knows? That way he might have found the God he was seeking. Certainly better than three friends with fixed positions, personal experiences and beginners' text book answers.