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11 August. Job chapters 21-23
In the first of these chapters, Job responds to Zophar’s charge that his suffering must be the result of sin. His argument boils down to the fact that many wicked people live safe and prosperous lives, therefore there is no causal connection between the two. That was an insight ahead of its time.
Eliphaz takes his turn next, arguing that Job has in fact “exacted pledges from [his] family for no reason, stripped the naked of their clothing, given no water to the weary to drink, withheld bread from the hungry, sent widows away empty-handed, and crushed the arms of orphans” (22:6-9). These are serious charges, with no evidence provided, and Job refutes them in the next chapter by reaffirming that he has kept all God’s commandments.
But we do know from the opening of the book that Job was very rich. Had he in fact become rich at the expense of others? Was he in reality a hard-headed businessman profiting from impoverishing others? In modern capitalist societies that is often the case – it is difficult for a business to be both ethical and profitable. So maybe there is some truth to the charges of his accusers, and his protestations of innocence do not hold up. Jesus condemned those who thought they were righteous because they obeyed the letter of the Jewish law yet actually broke it in spirit by exploiting others; maybe Job was like them. Not the hero he appeared to be at the start of the story.