Eliphaz the Temanite has just let Job have it with all sorts of suggestions as to why Job is experiencing this great trial in his life. It is funny how people will create things to explain why something is the way that it is. We will often see this in ministry. If someone cannot understand why something is the way that it is, they will create in their minds a scenario that fits the evidence that they have. The problem with this is that they often don’t have all the information that they need to create an accurate scenario. And this is very dangerous and divisive to a life, family, ministry, or church.

After Eliphaz has spent some time creating this fantasy world that he believes Job lives in he makes a statement that everyone should think about. Eliphaz tells Job to stop arguing with God and be at peace. And then says that if Job will do that, good will come out of it for Job. While the statement doesn’t really apply to Job’s current situation, it is a true statement that we should look at.

Too often in life, ministry, or the church we find ourselves arguing with God. He has made something clear to us and yet we think we know better and tell God that. As servants, we should obey. We have no place instructing the Master in how our lives or ministries should run, especially a Master that is the Almighty God, and is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent.

As children of God, our role is to be obedient. Our loving Father knows just what we need when we need it, and we are to trust Him with our lives. Too often, like we were when we were teenagers, we think we know everything. We especially know more than our parents did. But compared to God we are not teenagers, but toddlers. We are not capable of surviving on our own. And seeing ourselves as toddlers we must stop arguing with God.

Eliphaz says that two things will result from not arguing with God: peace and good. When we are being the faithful servants and obedient children God desires us to be, it results in peace in our lives and ministries. And when we are at peace with God, He is inclined to bring good into your life, ministry, and church. If there is not peace in your life, ministry, or church it may be a sign that you or someone else may be arguing with God. And if you are in a leadership position, which you probably are to some extent, then you have a responsibility to bring peace to the situation. You do this by starting in your own heart and asking God to reveal to you what you are arguing with Him about. And then you ask Him to help you to cleanse that rebellious attitude from your life. And then with others, do not do as Eliphaz did by creating reasons for the situation, but by praying for those involved and by comforting, encouraging, and exhorting those who are involved. Jesus, help us to see things like you see them.

Read: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4