After the third friend has finished rebuking Job it is clear there is not going to be any sympathy coming from these three friends. Job’s friends are more offended by Job’s words that project his frustration with over-simplistic theology.
Job burst into sarcasm when Zophar finishes telling Job he was lucky that something worse hadn’t happened! Zophar had said that Job’s children had received the judgment they deserved from God. Job replies with these words (and, I paraphrase here):
“You are THE MAN! Where will we go for wisdom when you all are dead?!...Really? Thanks for nothing, losers!”
Or, as the NIV more correctly translates it:
'Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?”
– Job 12:2-3
After a derisive rejection of his friend’s advice and theology, Job expresses the embarrassment of
his position and quickly returns to his refutation of God’s apparent unfairness.
Job fist complains that he is now a laughingstock to his friends even though in the past he had lived righteous and blameless. What is more, Job says that in the past he had “called on God and He answered” the prayers! Which means a few weeks ago everyone including Job’s friends and God considered Job righteous enough! What happened? Job says, "I know what happened: God isn’t fair!" Why does Job say this? Because even while they were speaking,
“The tents of marauders are undisturbed, and those who provoke God are secure
– those God has in his hand.” – Job 12:6
Those who steal from men and provoke God are still secure, because God makes them secure! He has them in his hand!
Of course, Job tells his friends, they won’t understand this or even care to consider Job’s questions
or his pain, because:
“Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.” – Job 12:5
In exasperation with God and his friends, Job turns to the animals and tells his friends to “ask the animals, and they will teach you.” The animals even “know that the hand of the Lord has
done this.” And, it is not right! |