There’s an African proverb: “If a donkey kicks you and you kick back, you’re both donkeys.”
Having already accused his “friend” of being loquacious, vacuous, hypocritical, and ignorant, Zophar feels he needs to make things clearer so Job doesn’t miss the point! God is looking for people like you, Job: “If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment, then who can hinder Him? For He knows deceitful men; He sees wickedness also” ( Job 11:10-11). You’re just the kind of man the Almighty Policeman is looking to arrest, just the type to appear before the All-knowing Judge’s court. Guilty as charged! But Zophar can’t stop himself. “For an empty-headed man will be wise, when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man” (v 12). Does he have anyone in mind when he says a stupid man can be smart the moment a donkey delivers a human baby? Obviously it’s the man in the ash heap. So here’s Zophar’s advice. Get smart, Job. Come clean about your sin. “Stretch out your hands toward Him” (v 13) in repentance. Then purge your life of all this hidden sin, “put it far away, and [do] not let wickedness dwell in your tents” (v 14). If you follow this plan, “you could lift up your face without spot” (v 15). And, says Zophar, I can guarantee that everything would change for the better. “You would forget your misery,” like water under the bridge (v 16). “And your life would be brighter than noonday” (v 17). There’s just one problem, Zophar. Job was chosen for suffering to show how a true believer goes on being loyal and loving towards God, even in the dark. I can’t help but wonder if Zophar was related to Ishmael of whom it was written, “he will be a wild donkey of a man, his hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; and he will live in defiance of all his brothers” (Gen 16:12, NASB). It takes one to know one.