“For then you will delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God” (Job 22:26). Eliphaz declares this to Job during his third speech in “The Great Debate.” Even though Job has persistently claimed that he has not done any wrong and that he is not wicked, Eliphaz continues to reproach Job for his statements of innocence. Eliphaz finally specifies what sin he believes Job is guilty of, stating that Job has “taken pledges of (his) brothers without cause” and has “to the weary given no water to drink, And from the hungry (has) withheld bread” (Job 22:6-7). He goes on to encourage Job to repent so that the Lord might renew him and accuses Job of thinking he can hide his sin from God. In this verse, Eliphaz is declaring that if Job repents
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But His mighty thunder, who can understand?” (Job 26:14). After Bildad has given his third speech, first proclaiming God’s greatness and then asking once again how anyone can be righteous in the sight of the Lord, Job responds by rebuking Bildad for his useless counsel. Job then continues in his speech by demonstrating his own ability to describe God’s greatness, declaring his power over the dead and all of creation. However, Job concludes by questioning who can understand His ways? This verse is significant, because it reveals the cosmic view of relative and absolute truth. In this verse, Job is implying that no one can understand the ways of the Lord or the true greatness of His power, because, according to the cosmic view, humans are limited to inside-the-box, relative truth thinking. On the other hand, only God knows absolute truth and can view the world from outside of the box. Nevertheless, Job is able to understand these truths because, through faith, the Lord has revealed to him some of the absolute truths that can only be seen from outside of the box. Therefore, while Job does not completely understand his punishment, unlike his friends, he trusts that the Lord knows that he is innocent. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are limited to inside-the-box thinking, assuming that if one is suffering, he must be wicked, however, Job recognizes that the Lord “looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24), and thus knows that Job is righteous. Therefore, according to the cosmic view, while Job is essentially operating inside the box by living in the world, in regards to his punishment and the Lord’s dealings with him, he senses that something is happening outside the box, in the Heavenly realm. Job is correct, for while he does not know of Satan’s goal or test with the Lord, he understands that there must be a reason for what God is doing to him, since He
But His mighty thunder, who can understand?” (Job 26:14). After Bildad has given his third speech, first proclaiming God’s greatness and then asking once again how anyone can be righteous in the sight of the Lord, Job responds by rebuking Bildad for his useless counsel. Job then continues in his speech by demonstrating his own ability to describe God’s greatness, declaring his power over the dead and all of creation. However, Job concludes by questioning who can understand His ways? This verse is significant, because it reveals the cosmic view of relative and absolute truth. In this verse, Job is implying that no one can understand the ways of the Lord or the true greatness of His power, because, according to the cosmic view, humans are limited to inside-the-box, relative truth thinking. On the other hand, only God knows absolute truth and can view the world from outside of the box. Nevertheless, Job is able to understand these truths because, through faith, the Lord has revealed to him some of the absolute truths that can only be seen from outside of the box. Therefore, while Job does not completely understand his punishment, unlike his friends, he trusts that the Lord knows that he is innocent. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are limited to inside-the-box thinking, assuming that if one is suffering, he must be wicked, however, Job recognizes that the Lord “looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24), and thus knows that Job is righteous. Therefore, according to the cosmic view, while Job is essentially operating inside the box by living in the world, in regards to his punishment and the Lord’s dealings with him, he senses that something is happening outside the box, in the Heavenly realm. Job is correct, for while he does not know of Satan’s goal or test with the Lord, he understands that there must be a reason for what God is doing to him, since He