It seems that Job’s friends were not able to comprehend the unidentified reason for his suffering (read Job 1:6-12), so they jumped to conclusions about its source. The first of the three, Eliphaz, acknowledged that Job has been a source of strength to others as we read in Job 4:3-4, “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.”  But then he turns and puts the blame for Job’s suffering squarely on Job himself. “Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” (Verses 7-8).

Job’s friend, Bildad, says much the same. “See, God will not reject a blameless person nor take the hand of evildoers” (Job 8:20).  Bildad regards Job as a righteous man, who has fallen into sin.

Job’s friend, Zophar, offers Job advice in Job 11:13-15, “If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him; If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear.”  He goes on to say in verses 17-18, “And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning. And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.”

It is true that the Lord might send calamities our way when we stray from the path he has for us.  It’s important for us to realize that the Lord’s discipline towards is always done out of love and concern for us.  We are exhorted in Proverbs 3:11, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction.”  We read in Hebrews 12:6-8, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”  So, we see that discipline from the Lord is an act of love and an indication that we are his children. 

It is also true that the Lord might send calamities our way even when we have nothing wrong in His sight.  He may see fit to cause hardships in our lives to prevent us from sinning.  Consider what happened to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  Here the Lord allowed some physical infirmity to come upon Paul so that he would not become proud.  Paul learned the value of this and was thankful for it. 

I’m sure Job’s friends were trying to be helpful to Job, but they could not understand that Job’s infirmities were not a punishment from God, but God had a purpose in Job’s suffering…from which the Lord greatly blessed Job and returned to him twofold for all he had lost.  Job 42:10 tells us, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”  I suggest that when we are in a situation of suffering or infirmity, that instead of immediately asking the Lord to relieve us of our suffering, that we first ask Him if there is a lesson He is trying to teach us in our sufferings.  (CC)  (648.6)