Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, Perek 22. This begins the 3rd round of debates between Iyov and his friends.
We still have two unanswered questions of Tzaddik v’ra lo and Rasha v’tov lo - why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?
The Malbim explains that Eliphaz comes up with a new response to these questions. Hashem purposely does not usually reward the righteous or punish the wicked in this world per se because He wants us to serve Him for His own sake, and not for reward and punishment. If people would be rewarded in this world, their motivation for serving God would only be to attain more reward.
The Malbim explains that when you serve God for a reward, you’re just serving yourself. We are supposed to keep the mitzvos for their own sake, to fulfill the word of the Creator. Hashem doesn't want our behavior to be motivated by reward and punishment.
It goes without saying that if we would be immediately punished or rewarded every time we did something good or bad, we would cease to have free choice. God thus purposely hides His providence to allow for free choice and reward and punishment.
The ability to deny Divine providence is built into the world so that we can say that the world is static and there is no Hashgacha Pratis. Hashem purposely hid Himself to weed out who’s really serving Him with truth, sincerity, and honesty, versus who’s not.
The Malbim continues to explain that this bolsters Elifaz’s initial assertion that the righteous will receive reward in the World to Come, while the reshaim will be punished there. With this, Eliphaz seems to reestablish himself over Iyov.
In verse 2 it asks, “Can a man be of benefit to God? The man of insight benefits Himself!” Eliphaz questions the value of receiving an immediate reward. Serving God for reward and punishment is like serving ones’ self!
This is something I often wonder about. Why do they primarily teach schar v’enosh, reward and punishment, to kids in school? Although it is true, it’s the lowest form of serving God. In fact, it’s a selfish way of serving Hashem. We’re supposed to do mitzvos and keep the Torah because that's what God wants! We have the ability to serve Him. What can be better than that?
Eliphaz in verse 5 proceeds to tell Iyov that he’s not as innocent as he thinks. “Your wickedness is great, and there’s no limit to your sins.”
In verses 11 through 21, Eliphaz tells Iyov that he is mistaken in how he believes the world works. The Malbim explains that Iyov saw the wicked thriving, which led him to believe that the world must be bad. Iyov was judging Divine providence by the same standards used to judge the humans around him. This is incorrect, because God does not operate in the same way that people do.
Eliphaz shows how in certain ways Hashem allowed the people of the generation of the flood to receive goodness although they were acting directly against Him. He uses this to demonstrate that Hashem doesn't necessarily punish the wicked right away.
In verse 21 through the end of the perek, Eliphaz explains the value of serving Hashem l’shem Shamayim, for the sake of God alone. Then it's actually enjoyable and delightful. Torah no longer looks like a burden and God no longer seems scary. You’re able to delight in Him, face Him in prayer, and He will be your fortress.
May we merit serving God like a servant who does not serve his master for reward. Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily for Iyov’s response.
Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.
