When Good Advice Isn’t Godly Counsel
I was talking with a friend tonight about Job’s three friends and the counsel they gave him. On the surface, much of what they said sounds like good advice—wise, moral, even rooted in Scripture-like principles. But as we know from the conclusion of Job’s story, God was displeased with their words. Why? Because they misrepresented Him. Their counsel, though seemingly “right,” lacked a true understanding of God’s character, His purposes, and His grace.
This reminds me of A.B. Simpson’s Days of Heaven on Earth reflection on the principle of sowing and reaping. Like Job’s friends, we often approach life’s struggles through a narrow, law-bound mindset—thinking that suffering is always retributive, a direct punishment for sin. But Simpson challenges us to look at life, suffering, and restoration through the lens of Christ’s finished work.
Why God Was Displeased with Job’s Friends
Job’s three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—believed they were defending God’s justice when they insisted that Job must have sinned to deserve his suffering. Their argument was simple: “You reap what you sow.” To them, Job’s calamity was proof of hidden sin. They assumed that suffering was always a form of divine punishment, and blessing was always the reward for righteousness.
The problem? They misunderstood God’s ways.
They reduced God’s justice to a mechanical law of cause and effect.
While the principle of sowing and reaping is true (Galatians 6:7), it is incomplete when applied without grace and wisdom. Job’s suffering was not retribution for sin; it was part of God’s sovereign plan to reveal His glory and refine Job’s faith.
They misrepresented God’s heart.
God is not only just but also merciful, gracious, and redemptive. Job’s friends failed to consider that God’s dealings with His children are often about discipline, growth, and restoration—not punishment.
They spoke without knowledge.
God rebukes them in Job 42:7: “You have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Their “wise counsel” was rooted in human logic, not in a true understanding of God’s character.
Job’s story reminds us that not all good advice is godly counsel. Even well-intentioned words can misrepresent God when they lack His grace and truth.
Christ’s Atonement: Beyond Sowing and Reaping
This brings us to today’s reflection from A.B. Simpson. Like Job’s friends, we can sometimes view suffering as punishment under the rigid law of sowing and reaping: “You must reap what you sow.” But Simpson beautifully reminds us of this truth:
Christ has borne the penalty for sin—completely and fully.
Simpson writes:
"Christ has borne this penalty, and the same Christ has borne the natural penalties, too, and delivered us out of condemnation in every sense."
Here’s the heart of the matter:
Because of Christ’s atonement, we no longer live under the law’s retribution.
Christ not only saves us from sin’s eternal consequences but also redeems the brokenness caused by sin in our lives.
This is why God can say to us through Joel 2:25:
"I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten."
God’s Discipline, Not Retribution
When we experience suffering, we need to be careful not to fall into the mindset of Job’s friends—assuming it’s always punishment. For the believer, suffering is not retributive; it’s redemptive.
God’s discipline is motivated by love, not anger (Hebrews 12:6).
God’s purposes in suffering are to refine us, draw us closer to Him, and display His glory in and through our lives.
Even the “ruin” that sin brings—whether in our relationships, circumstances, or years of wandering—can be restored. Christ’s atonement is that complete. His grace reaches every corner of our lives.
Simpson captures this so well:
"Even the ruin that sin has brought upon our physical and temporal life is removed by His great atonement."
A Better Perspective: Grace Over Law
Job’s friends got it wrong because they applied law where grace was needed. They assumed Job had to “pay” for his suffering. But God’s heart is always toward redemption and restoration.
The same is true for us. When we trust in Christ’s finished work, we no longer live under condemnation or the rigid demands of the law. Instead, we live in the freedom of His grace. Even the “eaten years”—the losses, regrets, and mistakes—can be redeemed by His mercy.
Conclusion: Resting in God’s Heart
If you’re walking through suffering today, let this truth encourage you:
Your pain is not punishment. Christ has already borne the penalty for sin.
God’s discipline is redemptive. He is using your trials to refine you and draw you closer to Him.
Restoration is possible. God’s promise in Joel 2:25 is for you: “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.”
Let’s not make the mistake of Job’s friends by misrepresenting God’s heart—toward ourselves or others. Instead, let’s anchor our hope in the completeness of Christ’s atonement and trust Him to restore what’s been lost.
What about you? Are there “eaten years” in your life that you’re trusting God to redeem? How has His grace shown up in your suffering? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Scripture for Meditation:
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Promise to Hold Onto:
"I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten" (Joel 2:25).