Eliphaz continues his speech in chapter 5. I am struck with similar thoughts from his words in chapter 4. What he knew was not wrong. In fact, he was quoted by Paul.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”;
1 Corinthians 3:19 NASB
This is true, but it does not apply to this situation. It was not what he knew, but rather, what he didn’t know that spoke the loudest. The mystery of God and His ways with regard to suffering was not considered. As Oswald Chambers writes in his book Our Ultimate Refuge…
“If the study of the Book of Job is making us reverent with what we don’t understand, we are gaining insight. There is suffering before which you cannot say a word; you cannot preach the “gospel of temperament;” all you can do is remain dumb and leave room for God to come in as He likes.”
Oswald Chambers
What does it mean to become reverent with what we don’t understand? Isaiah 55 gives us a good direction.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9 NASB
But we want to figure it all out, don’t we?! Sometimes, instead of trying to explain everything, it’s better to just submit ourselves under God and admit that our knowledge is limited. In this situation, it would have been far better for Eliphaz to simply love and care for Job as a friend than to try and “fix” his problem.