Called Out by a Friend

Job 32-34

“Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.” Job‬ ‭32‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Such a sad verse. Friends who know you but don’t believe you? Such overwhelming discouragement that must have been. Verse 2 goes on to say his friends actually believed “God was right in punishing him.” Ouch!

But then there’s a friend who speaks up and says enough is enough, reminding Job who God is: “But if an angel from heaven appears— a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright— he will be gracious and say, ‘Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.’ Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again.” Job‬ ‭33‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬ We all need friends like this—the ones who call us out of self-pity and our twisted versions of truth. “Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.” Job‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “For God watches how people live; He sees everything they do. No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from His eyes. He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and He sets up others in their place.” Job‬ ‭34‬:‭21‬-‭22‬, ‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬