Making it Better

Job's friend tells him he is being a hypocrite.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered: ‘If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking? See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have supported those who were stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees. But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope? ‘Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it. Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice: “Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker? Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error; how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth. Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish for ever without any regarding it. Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.” - Job 4:1-6, 12-21

It is easier to be a source of strength for someone else than it is for ourselves.

We learn that Job used to comfort those who had stumbled, fallen away from their faith because of bad times, feeling lost and apart from God.

Now it's Job's turn, and he has trouble seeing the light.

According to psychologists who have studied the effects of good and bad experiences on us humans, recovering from a bad experience takes a long time.  We tend to let negative things stick more than positive ones do.

In other words, when times are good, we enjoy them and move on, but when they are bad, their impact is felt long after the good returns.

So, this reminder form Eliphaz that life is short and we will all die is probably not very helpful for Job.

In fact, what can one say that will make things better?  

What Job may be learning here is that his words of comfort for those he sought to help may not have been as helpful as he thought.  And this is what his friend is telling him.  Heed your own words, Job.

But that's hard to do, isn't it?  We don't do a good job supporting ourselves when we are in need.  We need God's help.

While Job remains faithful to God through his suffering, he focuses on wanting answers where no answer will suffice.

We seek to understand the unknowable, and that gets us stuck.  So, what could Eliphaz say to comfort Job in this state?

Probably nothing.  Maybe he should just sit with him and hold his hand.

More to come...