Over and over in Scripture we read that children have one responsibility in their families—to obey their parents. The world would be a much better place if children were instructed well by their parents and responded obediently to their instructions. Much of today’s crime and violence can be traced back to the home where good examples and teaching were absent or where the children were disobedient.

In the previous chapter, messenger after messenger arrives with the disastrous news that Job has been stripped of everything—family, lands, servants and possessions. Job’s response is still to worship God, refuting Satan’s accusation that Job’s faith was conditional on God’s abundant blessings.

Not to be defeated, Satan now ups the ante. He says, “Okay, he didn’t falter when his possessions were taken away, but certainly he will curse you if he has to suffer physical pain.”

When Job finally breaks the silence, it’s with a cry of anguish directed at God, his creator. Why was I born? Why can’t I die?

Job has lost his peace. He accepted the loss of all his possessions and even his family with an amazing calmness but now he lashes out. His passionate outburst is common to those who suffer deeply—whether physical, emotional or spiritual.

Life is painfully miserable for Job and he has no idea why. Our natural response to anything unwelcome is to ask why. Why this? Why me? Why now?

My mother suffered from Alzheimer disease and her agonizing questions were always a variation of “What have I done to deserve this? Why is God punishing me? “
Aren’t we prone to ask the same questions whenever we face difficulties?

Ah, if only Eliphaz had remained silent! Or just listened! Then he might have given genuine comfort. But Eliphaz came from Teman, a city known as a place of wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7), and the desire to show off his “wisdom” was too strong. He has sacrificed his initial compassion in order to hold on to his understanding that suffering is the direct result of sin.

What a disappointment Eliphaz’ words have been to Job.

He likens his experience to a caravan of travellers in the desert who are searching for water. They have hope and joy when they see swollen streams of water in the distance, but when they reach the streams they have dried up.