Our suffering is woven into this vast eternal purpose of God, which He has accomplished through our Lord Jesus. When we are afflicted, God provides a demonstration before all of the heavenly powers and before each of us that God’s judgment is just, His ways are perfect, and He knows what He is doing. Suffering, in fact, is sometimes the result of righteousness and of God’s eternal plan for our lives.

Reflection
Review Eliphaz’s rebuke in Job 4-5. Why do you think he was so quick to become bitter toward Job? How might Eliphaz presented the same argument in a gentler manner? Is it possible to offer rebuke in a kind way? Eliphaz seems to base his argument on his own personal observations of life. What do you think might be dangerous about making arguments based solely on observations? How is God often left out of that type of argument? How should the limitations of what we see and are able to know form our opinions and advice? What does chapter 6 reveal about the role of sympathy in God’s economy? How might we improve on the way we show sympathy towards those who on the surface are struggling?