After seven days of silent suffering on the ash heap, Job spoke. He did not curse God, but he did curse the day of his birth. His anguish was so intense that he wished he had never been born, asking, "Why was I ever born?" (Job 3:1).
The "Why?" Questions
Pain often makes us forget the joys of the past and concentrate only on the hopelessness of the future. Job asked four "Why?" questions that nobody but God could answer. While there is nothing wrong with asking why, we must remember that God does not owe us an answer. We live on promises, not explanations. If God did tell us why things happen, would it necessarily ease the pain or heal a broken heart?
The Failure of Job's Comforters
Job’s three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—heard his words but did not feel the anguish of his heart. They took the wrong approach to helping him. Instead of being witnesses, they chose to be prosecuting attorneys. They argued with his words instead of ministering to his feelings. As Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, "When words are many, transgression is not lacking."
Job’s Secret Fear
At the close of his lament, Job shares a secret: before his troubles started, he had a feeling—a fear—that something terrible was going to happen (Job 3:25-26). His worst fears were now realized. This vulnerability, however, led his friends to rebuke him and come to God's "defense," beginning a long and painful debate.
- The best way to help those who are hurting is often just to be with them and say little. Do you listen more or speak more when comforting others?
- Reflect on the difference between asking "Why?" and demanding an explanation from God.
Next Up: Examining the narrow theology and "unmitigated curse of controversy" from Job's friends.