Are you ready to be transported to the ancient world of Job and Eliphaz? In chapter 4 of the book of Job, we find Eliphaz in a deep sleep, when suddenly a vision is secretly whispered to him.
“Dread came upon me, and trembling, and made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed by my face; The hair of my flesh stood up. Something was standing still, but I could not recognize its appearance; A form was before my eyes,” (Job 4:14–16).
As Eliphaz awakens, he is frozen in fear, transfixed by the form standing before him. Though he cannot recognize its appearance, he hears a voice that pierces the silence:
“Can mankind be righteous before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?” (Job 4:17).
Now, Eliphaz was trying to comfort Job at this point in his affliction, but this story would scare anyone. From this formless shape came a message that would challenge Job’s sense of self-righteousness and remind him of the fleeting nature of life.
“Men die and all their achievements and accomplishments go with him,” the voice seems to say. “Why should a man get an exalted idea of himself?” Eliphaz takes this message and uses it to drive home a point to Job: his piousness is fake, and because of that, he has sinned and God is punishing him. There is some truth and some falseness to this story.
Ultimately, the story of Job and Eliphaz is more than just an ancient tale, it’s a message that resonates with us today. As we delve into chapter 5, we witness a transformation in Eliphaz’s heart as he reflects on the glory of God.
This book is a call to action that challenged Job, Eliphaz, and us to examine our own beliefs and turn towards the divine. In doing so, we may find ourselves transformed, with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to God.
For the next devotion in this series click here.
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