Job 6:14-30 – What not to do when a person is hurting

In these verses, Job expressed how he felt about his three friends. He had the feeling that they were against him and were unsympathetic to what he was going through. There was absolutely no compassion from them even though they saw him in his plight. Job felt what he needed was consideration from them and would appreciate a little pampering and indulgence, even if he should forsake the fear of the Lord. Note that this was Job’s wishful thinking and not that he had forsaken the Lord. But they were the least bit sympathetic. Although it was Eliphaz who had only spoken so far, yet Job felt that the other two were also in agreement with him. Probably he detected that through their facial expression and response to Eliphaz’s sermonizing.

The wadi Job referred to here in verse 15 is a valley. It might be a dried river bed at times but then it could also gush with turbulent water, brought about by the snow that had melted. And as the wadi wound its way into the desert, it would soon become dry again because of the heat of the desert or because the water would be absorbed by the desert sand. Here Job was using sarcasm. He was showing how useless the wadi was for merchants from Tema or Sheba, the north and south of Arabia respectively. Because when these merchants reached the spot where they needed water, the brook would be dried and had nothing to offer. Job was accusing them of not being helpful. He accused them of being afraid when they saw his terrible condition. And were petrified when they learned of his calamity. What was worse was that they concluded that the calamity was a judgment of God. How they saw it made them unsympathetic, for fear that they would be caught up in the wrath of God as well. 

What Job needed most was a listening ear and lots of understanding and compassion. What he least needed would be the analysis of where he went wrong and why he deserved such a catastrophe. The same it is for everyone, we included. When something not so pleasant happens to us we certainly would like a more attentive ear with lots of understanding. The last thing we want would be an analysis of the why’s and the wherefores of what went wrong. Let’s be mindful when we are seeking to help a person with hurts. Whether he or she deserves it or not is immaterial. What that person needs is consideration, patience and gentle nudges, to help them through their pains.