7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them, and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
Job's friends had freely offered him advice about what was wrong with his relationship with God. They had talked to Job a lot about God, but never prayed with him to God. God now talks to Eliphaz as their representative and says this: "you guys seem to think you know all about me. I wish you knew half as much as Job does, so here's what's going to happen: Job will serve as your priest to teach you how to talk with me. You have criticized his relationship with me; now he will teach you how to have a conversation with me." God then restores all the things Job had lost, and more, as a sign of their close relationship.
Just a couple of things here: First: We need to do more praying with people, and less telling them we are praying for them, telling them what is wrong with their relationship with God, and telling God how to fix them. Secondly, we should not view trials and troubles in this life as a sure sign that our lives, or the lives of others are off track. He just might be taking us to the next level, or using our lives to help others grow in their faith. If we believe prayer is a powerful opportunity, we should trust God to know what He's doing.
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