Page 159 - Job

“My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends,
because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job
has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams,
and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for
yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept
his prayer so that I may not do with you according to your folly. You
have not spoken of Me what is right; as My servant Job has. So
Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the
Naamathite went and did as the LORD Told them; and the LORD
accepted the prayers of Job. The LORD restored the fortunes of Job
when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job
had twofold.
Now God required a blood sacrifice from these three friends. Notice
these two things. First, that this book takes place long before Moses and
the Levitical system. The whole idea of blood sacrifice does not start with
Moses; they are patriarchal and ancient. Then notice that God leaves Elihu
out. Do you remember that Elihu had taken a step in the right direction?
He was not required to bring a blood sacrifice.
I know as I read the book of Job, that he did not speak what was right. Job
was as wrong as they were wrong. God is not putting His seal of approval
on Job’s reasoning’s. God already told us His opinion of Job. “Who is
this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” That is what He
thought of Job’s arguments. They were words without knowledge. And
yet, He says, “My servant Job has spoken what is right.” Now what is it
that Job said that was right? I believe God is referring to the repentance of
Job. He knew how to admit his foolishness and need for change,
“Now Thou canst do all things and nothing can be restrained from
Thee.” “I have heard of Thee with the hearing of the ear, but now
my eye sees You”
Job’s arguments were wrong, but his repentance was right. I believe that
those three never did repent. I think there is something very wonderful
here. As far as the record goes, God never told Job to pray for his friends.
He did not say, “Job, I want you to go pray for them right now”. But Job
had a burden for his three friends. God opened his eyes. It was more than
theology now. He had heard of God for a long time, but now the eyes of
his faith were opened. Through suffering, he saw God with his own eyes,
by revelation, with his spirit. It is marvelous that after all Job had been
through with those three characters, we find him at the end of the book on
his knees praying for them. Verse 10, “When he prayed for his friends.”

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