Worthless Quacks

Leadership

It was an epic argument. Back and forth, message after message, accusation after accusation, point, counterpoint, insults, and drama like politicians hopped up on adrenaline right before an election. It was 35 chapters of shade being tossed around, and God just sat back and watched like a father letting his children work things out between themselves before stepping in and laying down the law.

God allowed Satan to test Job, who up to that point was a blameless man of complete integrity and great wealth. He revered God and honored him throughout his life. The test was to see if all the good stuff was taken away from him, would he turn away from God and curse Him? His life went from blessed to brutal, and he was in great agony. Three friends showed up to "help," and the fun began.

The way I read it, there wasn't a whole lot of empathy. No offer to help clean and bandage the boils covering his body. No, "I'm sorry you lost everything". "Can we give you some cattle or grain?" No shoulder to cry on after losing your wife and children. Just a little, "You probably got what you deserve and must have brought it on yourself".

Some pretty good reasoning, healthy sarcasm, bitter words, and one golden nugget that slapped me across the face.

"As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks. If only you could be silent! That's the wisest thing you could do." (Job 13:4-5)

Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to be silent.

Don't let someone else's venom cause you to bite back. You are under no obligation to respond or engage in other people's drama or anxiety, no matter how much of it they toss on your lap. Most of the time, all they want is for you to see it their way, and until they (and you) are ready to accept that they could be wrong, it just isn't worth the argument. Just don't respond. Let time deliver the wisdom needed or dissipate the drama until a safe place arises to discover it together.

Shade disappears in light, and the best light is from the Son, and He says, sometimes it is best to say nothing and let me handle it.

If only you could be silent, that's the wisest thing you could do.

In the end, God redeemed Job's faithfulness, restoring his life back to a better place than it was before. Especially in times of trials, don't allow worthless quacks to bait you into acting in a way that dishonors God and saying something you regret. There's great wisdom in silence.