spiritual battle, Friend's Experience (Job 4-5)

Job's three friends had kept quiet for a week, just being there for Job while he was suffering with immense pain.  In that time, they behaved as friends should, although if they were believers in God as they seemed to claim, it is curious that there is no mention of them being in prayer.   As you will see below, there is only mention of "desquietening thoughts".

Finally Job began the conversation with some very human emotions, regretting the day that he had been born.

His friends then jumped in on the conversation with the typical - you probably are being disciplined because you have sinned and you need to confess!  Although Eliphar eased into the topic, saying that only the wicked perish, but there are exceptions!  Then he offered reasons why God would do this, like - God had nothing better to do...

(Job 4:7-11)  “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright destroyed? 8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble harvest it. 9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they come to an end. 10 The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. 11 The lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered."

Eliphar then talked about a "vision" he had.  From the wording, I would say that it had just happened during the first week they had arrived.  This would make sense, because we already know Satan (or one or more of his demons) had been in the area, disrupting Job's life.

Eliphar only used the term "spirit", but I believe he thought the message came from an angel, because he decided to share the message, as if he felt it had some very valid points.  But from the description of his experience, it sounds like it was a demon.  And again, prayer would have helped him discern the message, but instead it appears that Eliphar was only fretting...

(Job 4:12-16)  “Now a word was brought to me stealthily, and my ear received a whisper of it. 13 Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, 14  dread came upon me, and trembling, and made all my bones shake. 15 Then a spirit passed by my face; the hair of my flesh bristled 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:"

Here was the message of the spirit.  From its words, it does not sound like these came from an angel.   It was saying that if angels cannot be considered trustworthy, how can mankind be?  But by this point, angels and demons had already made their decision to be on God's side or not.

And we know that even in old testament times, a person's faith would be credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4).  The essence of the message was to doubt and question God, and so, Eliphar should not have listened to the message, let alone repeat it...

(Job 4:17-21)  ‘Can mankind be just before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker? 18 He puts no trust even in His servants; and against His angels He charges error. 19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth! 20 Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces; unobserved, they perish forever. 21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, yet without wisdom.’

Ironically, Eliphar then cautioned Job about appealing his case to angels or demons...

(Job 5:1)  “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?

Now Eliphar explained what he had seen over the years - that trouble comes from man himself, and therefore the sinful never find success...

(Job 5:2-7)  “For anger slays the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple. 3 I have seen the foolish taking root, and I cursed his abode immediately. 4 His sons are far from safety, they are even oppressed in the gate, and there is no deliverer. 5 His harvest the hungry devour and take it to a place of thorns, and the schemer is eager for their wealth. 6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground, 7 for man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward."

Eliphar really was a "name-it-and-claim-it" kind of guy.  He figured that if you called on God, and did everything perfectly, then you would only ever experience success...

(job 5:8-16) “But as for me, I would seek God, and I would place my cause before God; 9 who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. 10 He gives rain on the earth and sends water on the fields, 11 so that He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 12 He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, so that their hands cannot attain success. 13 He captures the wise by their own shrewdness, and the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted. 14 By day they meet with darkness, and grope at noon as in the night. 15 But He saves from the sword of their mouth, and the poor from the hand of the mighty. 16 So the helpless has hope, and unrighteousness must shut its mouth.

Eliphar ended his first speech telling Job that all he needed to do was confess his sins, because obviously he must have sinned!  (Although we know full well from the first two chapters that God had allowed this time of testing because Job was a righteous man.)  What Eliphar, along with the other two friends, was really doing was joining Satan in accusing Job...

(job 5:17-27)  “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. 18 For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal. 19 From six troubles He will deliver you, even in seven evil will not 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 violence when it comes. 22 You will laugh at violence and famine, and you will not be afraid of wild beasts. 23  For you will be in league 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 secure, for you will visit your abode and fear no loss. 25 You will know also that your descendants will be many, and your offspring as the grass of the earth. 26 You will come to the grave in full vigor, like the stacking of grain in its season. 27 Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is. Hear it, and know for yourself.”

From this we see:
- demons influence troubling thoughts (4:16-21)
- the presence of demons can cause a person to feel dread (4:16)
- the presence of demons can cause a deep chill (4:15)
- sometimes people can sense a demon's presence (4:14-15)
- sometimes people can see demons in a formless shape (4:16)
- sometimes people can hear demons (4:12, 16-21)
- demons can talk to people (4:17-21)
- demons can influence people to question and doubt God (4:16-21)
- demons can influence people to blame God for their troubles (4:18-21)
- demons can influence unbelievers as well as believers to feel self-righteous (4:17-21)

Personal experience:  when you sense a spirit, whether an angel or demon, the best way I can describe it is - it feels more real than reality.  I have an excellent imagination, but no matter how hard I might try, there is no way I can imagine or conjure up that same feeling, or come even close to it.

And, just as God is everywhere yet we don't always sense His presence, even if an angel or demon were there, we won't necessarily sense their presence.  God is omnipresent, but angels and demons can only be in one place at one time.

Today's takeaway:  Eliphar did sense and see a presence, and even received a message (although an incorrect message).  If he had known God's character better, he would not have listened to that message, and maybe he wouldn't have become so self-righteous.

Self-righteousness is a sins.  It is the act of relying on ourselves to be "right" and determining that others are wrong (even though they may not be).  We need to be practicing Christ's righteousness, which is not what Satan wants us to do - at all.  And in order to do that, we need to know what righteousness is, or we can easily be deceived and misled.

A demon's presence can certainly influence us to sin, but we do not even need that - we are more than "capable" of sinning all on our own.  Whether or not there is a demon's influence, we make the choice to sin or not to sin.  Being tempted is not a sin!  Choosing to act on the temptation is a sin!...

(Matthew 26:41)  “Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(1 Corinthians 10:6-13)  Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 9 Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. 10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

(Galatians 5:16-26)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh [g]sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you [h]please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also [l]walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

(James 1:12-16)  Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.