Tags
Job’s three friends were told in no uncertain terms that they had been wrong and Job was right, even if Job didn’t really understand God:
Job 42:7 I am angry with you [Eliphaz] and your two friends [Bildad and Zophar], for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.
These three so-called friends had been breaching a type of prosperity doctrine that says you can earn wealth by being good, and that disaster comes directly from sin. It was a doctrine that blamed the victim and showed no compassion.
Job was commanded to pray for his friends and forgive them. So he did, and God restored his fortune:
Job 42:10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
In doing this, God showed up the impoverished theology of Job’s friends.Job’s setback was just that: short term and no reflection on Job. It was a demonstration that bad things don’t necessarily come from one person’s sin. And yes, Job was as he claimed: innocent all the while.
That Bible blog 