Love should be the basis of all our actions in the world. Through our words, thoughts, and behavior, love should be reflected. Including in advising or accompanying our brothers and sisters who are experiencing very severe suffering. In that love there is a willingness to humble oneself and listen carefully to the complaints of those who are suffering. Unfortunately, Eliphaz, Job's friend, did not have this, as reflected in our reading today. Eliphaz said, "Behold, blessed is the man whom God reproves; therefore do not reject the discipline of the Almighty." (Job 5:17). This sentence contains a profound truth—God's discipline is not merely a sign of punishment, but an expression of His love. God, like a father who loves his child, does not let us live without formation. This teaching pattern is similar to the advice patterns in the book of Proverbs because the Book of Job was also influenced by the type of literature that was popular at that time, namely wisdom literature. In the passage we read, Eliphaz says, “For He wounds, but He also binds up; He strikes, but His hands heal” (Job 5:18). Sometimes, the pain we experience actually opens the way for deeper healing. This is the understanding that developed at that time. This belief also upholds God’s goodness and justice. It is impossible for a God who is All-Good and Just to present challenges and suffering with bad intentions. So there must be something good from the difficulties experienced by humans. There is always hope in the midst of suffering. The promises that Eliphaz made were beautiful: protection from disaster, abundance, abundant descendants, and long life. However, these promises cannot be understood as instant rewards for obedience. Life does not always follow a pattern that we can calculate with certainty. Suffering is not always the result of sin, just as prosperity is not always a sign of God’s approval.

Eliphaz really wanted to comfort his friend. He wanted to advise Job to put his hope in God alone who would later bind up his wounds. Eliphaz wanted to show Job the good way and put himself in Job's position, he would humble himself, make sacrifices, confess his sins, and ask for forgiveness. Eliphaz's actions seemed good, but one thing that made his advice rejected by Job was that Eliphaz did not truly understand his friend. He failed to see how depressed Job was who even wanted to long for death which he felt was more peaceful. In his argumentation about suffering, Eliphaz apparently enjoyed lecturing Job from a safe place with teachings that seemed to have become absolute truth and could not be challenged anymore. Therefore, the comfort that we convey to others will only function as cool water in the middle of a barren land, if we truly listen and understand those who are suffering. People who can listen well are only those who are willing to accompany those who are suffering and try to hear what hurts their hearts and show respect for them.