06.25.2015 Old Testament: Job 5.17–18

To read the Bible in a year, read Job 4–6 on June 25, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

Eliphaz stated truth in the quotation below, but he misapplied it to Job, believing that all suffering is chastisement from God,

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects;
Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole.”
(Job 5.17–18) 

Eliphaz believed that Job had sinned secretly and God punished Job with the loss of his wealth and health for it. Yes, God corrects. Yes, we suffer. However, not all suffering is correction from God. Truly, in Job’s case, he suffered because of his righteousness, for Satan wanted to destroy Job, making him miserable enough that he would curse God, but Job never did it.