Day 74 – Discernment

Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, 2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? However, who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 You instructed many, and you strengthened weak hands. 4 Your words upheld him who stumbled, and you strengthened the feeble knees; 5 but, now it comes upon you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled. 6 Is not your reverence your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?

 7 “Remember now, whoever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? 8 Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. 9 By the blast of Elohiym they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed. 10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

 12 “Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. 13 In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14 fear came upon me, and trembling, which made my bones shake. 15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. 16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence; then I heard a voice saying: 17 ‘Can a mortal be more righteous than Elohiym? Can a man be purer than his Maker? 18 If He puts no trust in His servants, if He charges His angels with error, 19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before a moth? 20 They are broken in pieces from morning till evening; they perish forever, with no one regarding. 21 Does not their own excellence go away? They die, even without wisdom.’

Job 5:1 “Call out now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? 2 For wrath kills a foolish man, and envy slays a simple one. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root, but I cursed his dwelling place. 4 His sons are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no deliverer. 5 Because the hungry eat up his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and a snare snatches their substance. 6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble spring from the ground; 7 yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

 8 “However, as for me, I would seek Elohiym, and to Elohiym I would commit my cause— 9 who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. 10 He gives rain to the earth and sends waters on the fields. 11 He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans. 13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them. 14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noontime as in the night. 15 However, He saves the needy from the sword, from the mouth of the mighty, and from their hand. 16 Thus, the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

 17 “Behold, happy is the man whom Elohiym corrects; therefore, do not despise the chastening of the Shadday. 18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole. 19 He will deliver you in six troubles, yes, in seven no evil will touch you. 20 In famine He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. 21 You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 You will laugh at destruction and famine, and you will not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you. 24 You will know that your tent is peaceful; you will visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss. 25 You will also know that your descendants will be many, and your offspring like the grass of the earth. 26 You will come to the grave at a full age, as a sheaf of grain ripens in its season. 27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear it and know for yourself.”

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Shadday – Almighty

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Reverent

Holy

Deliverer

Healer

Protector

Who shows up with advice when you’re in trouble? Who tells you ‘I told you so’ when things go wrong? Your friends.

Job sits in ashes, boils over his body, wishing he had never been born. Then Eliphaz the Temanite speaks up and in essence tells him he deserves everything he gets. He dares to tell him about Elohiym and His character. He goes on to describe what a spirit whispered to him in the dead of night.

Everyone has well-meaning friends, especially Christians. When things go wrong in your life, your well-meaning friends come out of the woodwork with advice you didn’t ask for as you continue to trust Yeshuwa to help you. Your well-meaning friends will give you advice and if you aren’t careful to spend time in Yeshuwa’s Word, you can accept everything they say. However, Satan speaks to your well-meaning friends as he did to Eliphaz as a spirit in the night. He will tell you things that are true to throw you off balance when he tells you lies about you and your situation.

Satan did the same thing to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He told her lies wrapped in a wrapper of truth so Eve would accept what he told her about the fruit. Be careful about Satan’s wrapper, inside is lies designed to steal your hope and faith.

Job trusted Elohiym. He worshiped Him daily with sacrifices of thanksgiving for everything He gave him. You need to do the same. You need to worship and praise Yeshuwa every day by spending time in His Word, praying, and spending time in fellowship with other believers in church and Bible study. When you do, you can discern Satan’s lies from Yeshuwa’s truth.

What troubles do you face? Trust Yeshuwa to guide you in His truth and give you discernment when your friends come calling.

Let’s pray: Father, give me discernment when my friends give me advice, so I hear only Your truth and not Satan’s lies. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 2 April 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux