Job 4:4-5. “Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.”
FALSE ASSUMPTIONS. We may never know the reason we sometimes fall on hard times. Perhaps we know on one occasion, and others no reason we find. Because a person is a child of God doesn’t mean our sailing is smooth. Difficulties and painful experiences come lest our dependence on God we loose.
When God chooses to use one of His own for an example: that is His sovereign right. Satan may think he has gained some ground until he hears your songs in the night. Out of the darkness of despair and grief, often comes some of the greatest praise. God has ordained this as a training time that will bless you the rest of your days.
It is not only because of some sinful deed: painful problems descend on us. It may be that there is no other way God can teach us to place on Him simple trust. When we don’t know a reason for the pain, then we turn to our Lord in faith – And give Him the burden, and ask Him for the needed grace.
Others will have opinions that may be false – a little of it may be true. But God only knows all the reasons behind the difficulties we are passing through. If there is some part of our life we know really needs some correcting – Apply ourselves to change and what we know needs doing – act now nothing neglecting.
Never assume God is trying to hide from you what you need to know. He is a gracious and loving Father who wants us in grace to grow. The process of growth in spiritual things will call for toil and labor.
If the task or problems seem great, it may be an act of divine favor.
We cannot assume if a thing is prolonged that some things are left undone. Our response to what God allows should be to deal with them one by one. Not very often can we rush right through and see a work properly completed. It has been my experience that God leaves a thing until His will is heeded.
To assume there is failure that can never be fixed is to give wrong place to doubt. The results of pain and suffering may continue until the desired results come about. So, in patience continue, do not let unbelief have its way by making false assumptions. With confidence in God and pressing forward in faith, the event will come to a conclusion.
“O Father in heaven: I am looking ahead into the hours of this day before me, and wondering just how I can effectively fulfill what Thou dost expect from me today. I am sure it is Thy mind that I be well prepared for preaching tonight. And I know I need to be prepared for the meetings coming in Halifax. The hours between breakfast and supper need to be useful. Help me to use them well. Please, if it would bring glory to Thee, save some souls at this time. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”
In chapter five Eliphaz makes dogmatic statements in regards to God dealings with Job but does not apply them to himself. He claimed that even though Job was a servant of God, the problems he had were the fruit of his own sins and to resent that is foolish, because it will lead to your death. He gave a thoughtless example from his supposed "experience" of Job being one of the foolish people who cursed everything he had. It is true that trouble, suffering and sin do often come as a result of disobedience. Trouble often comes from some stupid action. Trouble may come on a child because of a father's discernment and judgment. Trouble may be a form of discipline from a caring father who wants to preserve you from greater danger. Trouble is sometimes and means of teaching trust and patience. Trouble may be simply a way of smoothing out some rough edges. Troubles may come to get our hearts and minds back on the Lord and that which is useful.
Eliphaz gave some good truth and some sound advice, and even truth about God, but it didn't apply to Job and his difficulties. It is a common practice for people to use some scripture reference out of context to rebuke or trap someone else. We do not know when trouble happens if it is for chastening, correcting, strengthening or blessing. That is God's business and He allows things to come on us for His own reasons.
Sometimes people speak more truth that they know themselves or realize. Eliphaz listed seven troubles from which God can deliver us but though pain can cause us to grow in faith. Renewed prosperity does not always follow repentance but Eliphaz assumed it did. God can deliver from famine. He can deliver from war and the power of the sword. He can deliver from the power of slander by the tongue. He can deliver from destruction by natural disasters. He can deliver from having no food at all to eat. He can deliver from wild beasts and from unnatural death. All of these things are under the control of God and He will do that which is according to His good pleasure.
Along with some of the good things Eliphaz said, other things were just right off the wall of his own marred experience rather than his knowledge of God. Unfortunately, this dogmatic egotist concludes that Job was suffering because he had sinned, and he needed to go before God and present his case in that context. In his arrogant way in essence he said, "I have searched out and examined this matter from my years of experience, and what I say is right. So, listen and pay attention to me and what I say, and then apply what I have said to yourself."