Job has just lost everything. He lost ten children, and his entire wealth. To make his lot even more difficult, he is covered from head to toe with painful, oozing boils.
He is brought to such misery that he regrets the day he was born.
Then come his good friends.
When they see him, they don't even recognize him. They are so stricken with the scene that they simply sit quietly, not speaking a word for seven days.
As the friends retire from Job in the evening, they must have inquired amongst themselves as to the foundation of this misery. Why has this happened to their great friend?
Then, Eliphaz confronts Job.
Job 4:7-8:
“Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity
and sow trouble reap the same."
Eliphaz essentially says, "Dude, you are suffering this because of your behavior. You reap what you sow. What have you done to bring this upon yourself?"
Really?
Can all of life's travails be heaped upon this simple maxim?
Come on Eliphaz. Are you telling me that a child's unfortunate death is the fault of his parents? In all circumstances?
No. I'm not buying it. This maxim may have a ring of truth to it, but it is not the universal root of all that befalls us.
Besides, what kind of friend are you to lump all this on Job? At this very hour?
I know you desire to know the source of this pain, but me thinks you are barking up the wrong tree.
How about you? Do you think the source of all of our pain, is the direct result of our behavior? Does God punish us by killing our children, and taking everything away from us? If not, then what is the source of life's severe pain, when it inevitably hits?
