TCN's Biblical Journey - May 7th

Today's reading is Job 15-19

 Pilot error isn't always the cause of plane crashes.

Job being the oldest written book in the Bible carries some ideas that might be easy to miss.  The depressing back and forth arguing between Job and his friends for many is long-winded and repeats the same points over and over. Yet how often in arguments still today do people do the same thing. However, what me may miss is the concepts and ideas that have already been established in the minds of these people.

We see in verse 14, a clear idea of sin and total depravity. “What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?”(15:14) Yes, we understand and believe that God wants to make people righteous but these people seemed to understand that in there own strength humans are bent toward sin and selfishness.

Of course, the problem with this doctrine taken by itself is a world without hope. It also serves as Eliphaz’s proof that Job must have sinned and done something evil to deserve all that has happened to him.

For us this reference is a reminder that depravity isn’t a doctrine devised by medieval monks, but something that was clear from the oldest Biblical records. Eliphaz’s use of this doctrine the way he did reminds us that though something is true it may not be true for this situation. Just as though pilot error is usually the cause of plane crashes, it isn’t always and to make that assumption, as Eliphaz did here, is wrong. 

Photo by Asa Rodger on Unsplash