Job's Mistake

There are many in the book of Job who make mistakes. Clearly Satan makes a mistake by challenging God over Job’s faithfulness in the first place. What a fool! He’s been living that one down for over 4000 years now. I bet he was really angry when the Book of Job made it into the Bible! But among those confined to earth, there are many others in the book who make mistakes as well.

1. Job’s wife told Job to curse God and die. (2:9) Big mistake.
2. Job’s children did not share their father’s fear of God and chose the life of ‘eat, drink and be merry. (1:4) Huge mistake that cost them their lives.
3. Job’s friends condemned him as sinful when he was innocent (22:5) Massive mistake that provoked God’s anger.

But Job also made a mistake, although it was not the sinfulness his friends assumed. Job’s mistake was his presumptuous attitude before God. Seen clearly in 10:2, 13:3, 27:2 but best in 19:6 Know then that God has wronged me…(NAS) Pretty presumptuous to suggest such a thing about God.

God spoke to Job and called him to repent. Job being a righteous man immediately did, and upon his repentance was asked to pray for his friends who had accused him so wrongly. We have no indication in scripture that Job did anything but simply obey, but what a moment that must have been. Job endures more loss than any man in history including his children. Satan then steals his health, and as if to cast insult upon insult, his friends show up not to console, not to comfort or encourage, but to condemn him as an unrighteous sinner. How painful must that have been in light of all he has already suffered? Fast forward to chapter 42. Job is forgiven and praised, and his callous friends are the ones who must do exactly what they demanded of Job: repent in humility before God. Actually, Job was to act as their priest. They were to repent and sacrifice before Job, and Job had to pray for them for their forgiveness. What a humbling moment for the now demur friends and a transcendent moment for Job. I wonder if he hesitated? No hint of that in scripture. Job was a better man than that. And true to his character, Job dutifully interceded for his friends securing their forgiveness.

Sometimes we are called to pray for those who hurt us. It can be one of the greatest signs of our faithfulness if we obey. Job had deep wounds from these friends, but he faithfully interceded for them. Who might God be calling you to pray for?