Eliphaz suddenly attacks Job with a simple statement, “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end?” (22:5) Eliphaz is a friend of Job and has known him for some years. He has seen him raise his family and has walked through life with Job. Now with Job’s children dead and his money gone, Job’s friend see him as a wicked man. What causes a friend to change?

Eliphaz accuses him of taking advantage of people, walking over them, hurting the widows and the orphans. Job is suffering now because he has hurt so many people in his life. How can a friend turn so vehemently against you?

It is a revealing of the character of Eliphaz that he suddenly spews out such hurtful words against Job. When Job had power and money, Eliphaz was a good friend and considered Job a good man. Now with it all gone, Eliphaz views Job through eyes of disdain and accuses him of all sorts of evil. The problem is Eliphaz is a fair weathered friend. They are the kind that is with you as long as you provide something for them. It could be money, prestige, or good times. But as soon as that is gone, they will be the first to attack you.

What is our response to such friends? Trust the Lord’s goodness and walk in His ways. Our lives are not to be controlled by friends such as Eliphaz, but by the good pleasure of our Lord. Job will say in 23:11-12 “My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” No matter how much it hurts, we just keeping walking with the Lord and praying for our friends!