Crises cause consideration. When life is easy, people live carefree, but when the diagnosis is dire or the bills are building, those carefree days give way to worry. What is true, real, and lasting become apparent.
Job had never suffered so intensely. He was assessing his life and comparing his frailty and temporariness with God’s strength and eternality (14:1-22, 16:8). God was far superior in every way. This was very clear.
Job’s pleas to God to end his suffering and his recognition of God’s sovereignty sounded petty and arrogant to Eliphaz. He spoke a second time to Job, highlighting the holiness of God and the need for humility before Him (15:1-35). Job assured Eliphaz he had heard these truths before (16:2). What Eliphaz and his friends were saying was true, and Job was in agreement with them, but they were bringing no comfort (16:2).
If Job and his friends traded places, Job would seek to encourage them and bring relief with words of consolation (16:5). He was asking his friends for comfort, not counsel. He felt as if they were scoffing at him (16:20), so he trusted his advocate in heaven (16:19). He wished his friends would advocate for him before God rather than pointing out his flaws.
Job was looking for hope (17:15). He needed to know there was certainty for the future. In Christ, believers have the hope of glory (see Colossians 1:27). Pray for His hope to fill you and overflow from you to help those in challenging situations to hold on and find hope in Him.
