JOB, HIS THREE FRIENDS AND FORGIVENESS

​As the book of Job concludes, we see that Job and three of his friends needed to repent before God and also work out their differences due to what was done in the midst of Job's travail. Most people when studying the book of Job, look to see how Job's troubles started, progressed and finally ended. But often the conclusion with Job's three friends, seems to go unnoticed.

As we take a deeper look and consider their situation, please review or see for the first time, these verses:

Job 42:7-10 And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has." 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord has accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indee the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

These verses describe, what happened immediately after Job repented before the Lord and the Lord had accepted his repentance (Job 42:1-6). As we see in verse 7, that the Lord had not only had something in particular to say to Job, but additionally to his three friends as they were called to repent by God. These verses show that God's visit with Job was also experienced by Elihu (Job's good, young friend who was prophesying when the Lord came and spoke out of the whirlwind), Eliphaz, the Temanite and quite possibly, Bildad and Zophar. Consider next what the Lord said to Job's friend, Eliphaz.

The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite in verse 7,

"My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

And the Lord repeats in verse 8 the same thing:

“because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

Job had already repented previously and the Lord had accepted his repentance and was not holding anything against him (Job 40:1-2,40:8). But Job's three friends “did not speak right of the Lord” and we know that all three were adamant that God was punishing Job for an unknown sin. In reality, from the beginning, Job had not sinned to cause his terrible trial but God allowed Job to be tested for His own reasons (Job 1:6-12).

Just as a reminder, here are the verses where Job repented:

Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Job's three friends had done wrong to Job in accusing him of a sin that caused his trial and tribulation. In the midst of Job's terrible trial that he suffered through, his three friends had the unified certainty that God had brought it all upon him because of some sin and that he needed desperately to find it and worked to help Job do just that (Job chapters 4-23). In judging Job that “he sinned and thus caused God to bring the adversity upon Him” - they not only misjudged Job, but also God. And God did not and does not take it lightly when we or anyone else judges Him, including on how He personally handles each of us when we sin or not.

Job struggled in his pain and felt wronged his suffering in that he did live rightly and then what was it all for? But he never did what the devil said he would do. The devil had told God that if He removed the hedge of protection from Job, his household and possession, that Job would curse God. The devil had said to the Lord,

Job 1:11 “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!"

But In all Job's suffering, he never cursed the Lord, especially not to his face.

Back to Job and his three friends. Job's sins were forgiven when he repented in the beginning of chapter 42. But Job's three friends needed forgiveness from Job and they needed it from God as the Lord spoke directly from the whirlwind as to what they needed to do.

The part that is so often overlooked is God's requirement for the three friends forgiveness. The Lord said that they had to bring their sacrifice for forgiveness (the 7 rams bulls and 7 rams), go to His servant Job and make them a burnt offering and have Job pray for them.

Let's look at verse 8 again:

“Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."

Why would their “sacrifices and repentance” alone of sinning against God not be enough to the Lord? Why did God have Job assist in the matter and pray for them?

One definite thought to consider is that it is never enough for us only to ask God to forgive us. Forgiving each other is also necessary for us to God. It is modeled for us by Jesus' prayer directive for us, commonly called the Lord's prayer, in which we are to pray,

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

And when He concluded the prayer, Jesus followed with

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

It is not enough for us to only repent “for ourselves” to God. We must forgive others and we must forgive those who have wronged us, to the point of praying for them. Job's three friends were commanded to repent but also to have Job make the offering and pray for them. God wanted Job to forgive and pray for them also. Consider this New Testament verse in understanding God's heart.

Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Job's friends reconciled with God and Job and Job reconciled with them to the level that God wanted.

As Job's three friends made their sacrifices of repentance and Job forgave and prayed for them to be forgiven; all that God required was met. All had repented before God and those that wronged each other also repented. This shows that the process was not complete until the one who was wronged, prayed for the ones who wronged him.

Most messages today only teach to forgive others because harboring unforgiveness is not healthy. And it is true that bitterness and unforgiveness are extremely unhealthy for the one harboring them. But God requires more. He requires us to forgive others as we are forgiven. He also requires us to love our enemies and pray for those who wrong us and even for those who “persecute and spitefully use us” (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28). And Jesus showed us on the Cross how to do it; He prayed “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” What Jesus was saying was that He forgave those that brought it upon Him and He wanted the Father to not hold it against them also. Jesus not only did this for those at the time, but also for all of us before we ever repented. He was releasing us to God the Father, so that when we would repent, we would be forgiven. Oh how this point is missed by so many. Forgiving others is critical not only for health of the one wronged but it is this first step in empowering God to work!

The Lord had said to Job's three friends that if they “did not do as commanded in repentance and if Job did not pray for them” - that He would have to deal with them according to their folly.

Job 42:8 “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

What was their folly? It was in their “knowing and proclaiming” that they knew that Job had sinned and that God was punishing him for it. And they were wrong. They not only judged God but misjudged Him. How many times we have all made the same mistake, the same sin? Oh Lord forgive us even now. Who are we to say that God brought some misery on someone else because of their sin? And who knows how many other times and ways that we have violated the Lord in similar manners? Lord, help us to slow down and keep clean hearts and minds.

How would God have “dealt with them according to their folly”? We can see that “His wrath” was aroused (Job 42:7). Would anyone of us want to arouse God's wrath against us? At a minimum, it seems that in their cases, that their prayers were hindered until things were made right with God and Job prayed for them.

How much harm today happens in the body of Christ for disobeying God in not forgiving those who have wronged each other and not asking God to forgive them also?

Whenever we listen to and obey God, it opens the door for Him to work in our behalf and the ones we are praying for. When we disregard God and how He wants us to deal with others, then we reject wisdom and open the door for the consequences of disobedience. Sadly, it also empowers the devil to continue his works of hurt, discord and the rest of whatever comes out of his ugly bag. Job's situation is in the Old Testament but God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the King of Peace and He is the giver of His grace but He expects us to pass it on. Being vertical with God is not enough; He expects us to be horizontal with our fellow man also.

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

What do we do in a situation whereupon we asked forgiveness to the Lord for the one who wronged us and the other person does not want reconciliation? Or, we asked forgiveness from some one we wronged? All we can do is our part and leave the rest to God. We are not responsible for what others do but we are certainly responsible to God for what we do. If they choose to forgive us, then it is a great thing because healing can start to begin. If not, then at least we did right and have released it to God. And when we choose not to hold on to any wrongs or bitterness on our part, we empower heaven to work and it also helps us to be able to continue to pray for healing and for God to have His way in whatever the issue is.

Job's restoration seems to have been hinged upon his forgiveness of his three friends and his willing to pray for them in their behalf.

Job 42:9-10a So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends.

One has to wonder how much restoration has been lost for many, by not praying for the ones who wronged them? Some might say, it is enough to ask God to bless the ones who wronged us. But if we “do unto others as we would have them do unto us” then I suspect we would want them praying for us from a good heart and possibly like Jesus on the Cross praying, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Job's obedience in forgiving his friends and praying for them as they who had wronged him, empowered heaven to work not only in his three friends behalf but also in his own. Job's obedience empowered the Lord to restore him for his losses and even restored him double. Obeying and pleasing God is where the blessings and benefits are. And we have the Holy Spirit sent to us in a way that Job did not have. Thanks to Jesus on the Cross, we can be born-again and actually have the Holy Spirit living inside us to guide, teach, strengthen us and help us do all that God expects of us.

Closing prayer: Oh Lord forgive us for not going the second mile on forgiveness. Forgive us for receiving Your grace and not passing it on. Forgive us for not being obedient in loving our enemies and even our friends in a way that we want to be loved and forgiven. Help us O Lord to empower you to work in our lives and the ones we have hurt and of those who have hurt us. Please forgive them and us, for the many times that we really did not know what we were doing... in Jesus' Name, amen.

Bible verses for thought about forgiveness, peace, wronging others and being wronged.

• Genesis 50:20-21 "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Joseph in regard to his brothers who had came to him (not knowing he was their brother) for help, after they had sold him into slavery. He refused to harbor unforgiveness)
  

• Numbers 14:18 The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.

 

• 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

 

• Proverbs 11:12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

 

• Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

 

• Proverbs 17:27-28 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

 

• Proverbs 18:19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

 

• Psalms 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

 

• Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

 

• Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

 

• Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” 

 

• Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

 

• Matthew 18:32-35 “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

 

• Mark 9:49-50 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

 

• Mark 11:25-26 "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." 

 

• Luke 6:27-28 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

John the Baptist's father Zacharias, when he was filled with the Holy Spirit after John was born and he gave him the name John, and prophesied and said of Jesus that He would:

• Luke 1:79 “... give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

 

• Luke 6:31-33 “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.”

 

• Luke 6:35-36 “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”

Many see in these next verses that verse 38 is about money only. However both vs. 37 and 38 are about the heart and what proceeds from it as well as the measure thereof:

• Luke 6:37-38 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." 

 

• Luke 6:41-42 “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.”

 

• Luke 17:1-4 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

 

• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

 

• John 20:22-23 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

 

• Romans 3:16-18 Destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

• Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

 

• Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

 

• 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

 

• 1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

 

• Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 

• Ephesians 4:30-32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

 

• Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

 

• Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

 

• Colossians 3:14-15 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

 

• 2 Timothy 2:22-26 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

 

• Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

 

• James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

• 1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

 

• 1 Peter 3:11-12 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
  

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Copyright © 2017 E. Cockrell. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.

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Copyright © 2017 E. Cockrell. May be used for personal study or instruction but shall not be copied and/or distributed in whole or part without permission or for financial profit.