Zophar's retort
Zophar, Job's friend, simply state that Job deserves much worse than what Job was facing now. Bear in mind that Job has lost his children and wealth, and was suffering from sores.
For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God's eyes.’
But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. -- Job 11: 4-6
He continues, stating that God's reasoning is higher than Job's.
Can you find out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven —what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? -- Job 11: 7-8
His solution for Job was to therefore turn to God and confess his sins.
If you prepare your heart,
you will stretch out your hands toward him.
If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
you will be secure and will not fear. -- Job 11: 13-15
Zophar's theology assumes the guilt of Job
What is worrying is that we can fall into the trap of fallacy of correlation thinking. If Job is suffering, he must have committed some great sin. In fact, Job deserves much worse in Zophar's eyes. If only Job would confess admit his guilt, then God would restore Job.
However, at no point of time has Job's guilt been clearly pointed out. Zophar just assumes and asserts it. While Zophar is mainly correct in the nature of God (his omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence), he was too hasty in condemning Job.
What I can learn from Job 11
Often, I too can commit the errors of Zophar by assuming someone's guilt before I even have the details.
In the words of the Apostle James,
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. -- James 1: 19 -20
