Welcome back to NachDaily, with Iyov, Perek 6. I hope that you’re all doing well today and enjoying learning Iyov.

It’s really quite an experience preparing these shiurim because we’re plumbing the depths of the way God’s hashgacha pratis works and from where human suffering originates. The concept which stands out in my mind is that Iyov, with no way of knowing about Hashem’s conversation with the Satan, is trying to make sense out of his experience of life. Although I haven’t seen this discussed in the Meforshim, I wonder what Iyov’s response would have been had he known about the prologue to the Sefer.

In this perek we’ll begin Iyov’s response to Eliphaz about human suffering. This is his second monologue.

The Ramban and Malbim say that Iyov was definitely affected by Eliphaz’s strong rebuke. He didn’t just listen coldly. In this speech, Iyov shifts his point of view and does not assert that the world is left up to the randomness of nature and mazalos.

If Eliphaz is correct, Iyov claims, in saying that God is punishing him to teach a lesson, the plan is failing. Iyov uses Eliphaz’s own logic to disprove him. If God sends man suffering to cleanse him from sin so that he can serve Him better, what if the punishment interferes with one’s ability to do that? How does God benefit from inflicting a person to the point that he no longer has the ability to serve Him?

A more modern day example would be that of a child who cuts school and is punished with suspension. The problem began because the child doesn’t want to be in school, and now as his “punishment” he gets to miss even more!

If people suffer because they weren’t serving God properly, what is the point of sending them more suffering which further disables them to serve Him?

Iyov asserts that God’s providence over man is no different than that over animals. Both man and animals are left to God’s hashgacha klalis, general providence, but don’t have hashgacha pratis, individual providence. God only considers the human race as a whole, but not on an individual level. Therefore, He doesn’t care about reward and punishment.

Rav Shwab notes that Iyov is conceding a certain level of Divine providence in the world. He is angry because God is causing an innocent man, with no aveiros, to suffer. While Eliphaz maintained that there’s no suffering without sin, Iyov asserted that there must be…look at him!

The perek opens with Iyov contending that his suffering outweighs his complaints. He says in verse 4 “Ki chitzei Shakkai imadi asher chamasam shotah ruchi b’usei elohai ya’ar’chuni – For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me. My spirit drinks their poison. The terrors of God continue to be arrayed against me.”

Iyov would rather die than continue to suffer. His body has been shattered and he can no longer find the inner strength and hope to persevere. He asks for his death to come quickly.

Verse 8 says, “If only my plea would come before God.” Iyov doubts that Hashem listens to his tefilos. He expresses total discouragement, with no hope at all.

In my experience working with clients, I find that hope is one of the most basic emotions that humans need. Even a glimmer of hope provides us with the inner resources to stay strong, hold tight and move forward. With no hope in our hearts, however, we hit rock bottom, the last ray of light fades away, and all feels lost.

Iyov denies Eliphaz’s prophetic vision in perek 4. He becomes utterly despondent over the fact that his friends, who ostensibly came to offer comfort, are harshly rebuking him and calling him a sinner.

In verse 15, Iyov turns to his friends and says, “Achai bagdu –My brothers have betrayed me…” Rav Shwab points out that if there was ever a time when Iyov needed his friends’ support, this was it. They failed him, exacerbating his pain and suffering.

In the last part of the perek, Iyov turns to his friends, challenging them to prove him wrong, in which case he will not protest. In verse 29, in a heartfelt plea, Iyov begs them “Please reconsider, and see there’s no dishonesty. Reconsider again – I am right.”

If you think that Iyov’s suffering couldn’t get any worse, stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily!

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.