Job: My So-Called Friends

Day 1 of 8: Expressions from Our Favorite Bible Heroes

A friend of ours suddenly withdrew from the rest of us, disappearing into oblivion. No explanations were given. Calls were not returned. Our text messages were ignored, and this led to a conversation within our friendship group as to what may have transpired to elicit such a strong reaction. No one seemed to know the reason for this sudden withdrawal, but one fact was clear — we had lost someone who would go out of her way to be there. She was that friend who had a magical and wonderful impact on those around her. And as a result of this loss, I found myself pondering what on earth could have led to the abrupt disconnection from the rest of us. Was this a case of someone who had given so much and received little in return? Was it about an unrealistic expectation on her part? Or could this be the natural projection of how things were meant to end?

As I meditated on the issue in my apartment, what became apparent was the need to jot down my thoughts on the subject for a wider audience. Lingering a bit more on where to place emphasis, I decided to start by focusing on the salient, intricate details of platonic friendships. Interestingly, platonic relationships remain a reoccurring theme through time, in literature, history, politics, and in the social life of most people across the globe. Due to the sensitivity and complexity of topics like these, opinions differ vastly, with a large section of people arguing that friendships, relationships and, associations demand attention, affection, explanations and, loyalty.

From a Christian perspective, the bible provides cases in point to support both views. As a result, associations can be a defensive or an offensive weapon that may either work to one’s advantage or downfall. For a person like Samson, association due to poorly informed choices led to his demise (Judges 14: 20, Judges 16: 4–20). On the other hand, for someone like David, the right heaven-approved friends were one of his weaponry against his enemies (1 Samuel 20: 1–42, 2 Samuel 15: 32–37). It is also important to note that David was betrayed by friends like Ahithophel. Regardless, David’s success story, through the help of friends like Jonathan and Hushai, goes to show the possibility that association can work positively or negatively.

Therefore, an argument that suggests friends are no good by looking at the story of a "victim of association" like Samson, will most likely be one-sided and biased. This is why we should adopt King Solomon’s advice: that your time-tested and divinely-endorsed friends should not be forsaken because in a day of calamity, a neighbor near, maybe a better advantage than a brother afar (Proverbs 27: 10).

In this book, we explore the subject of association, friendship, and relationships from the lens of Job’s life. We analyze the friends of Job from a revisionist perspective, compare them with other bible characters and summarize our study with two critical conclusions:

First, God expects a conscience that is void of offense, not only in His eyes but equally in the eyes of men (Acts 24: 16). Secondly, the right friendships and relationships play a vital role in determining our successes or failures. For example, Judah could not be everywhere at the same time; he needed the help of an ally in a different city (Genesis 38: 12–20). Samson’s best man ended up with the woman he was espoused to marry (Judges 14:20). Amnon was misled by a terrible friend, whereas David became the man God had destined for him to be, owing to the fact that Jonathan was indeed a friend who saved him from an abrupt and premature termination of destiny in the hands of Saul.

Whatever your conclusion, I hope that you find healing, restoration, revelations, and blessings from this devotional.

Silas Omoha

Day 1 of 8: Expressions from Our Favorite Bible Heroes

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