Job 6:16–17

nachal, Gen. 32:23, and so on: a mountain torrent often dry in summer, and so often disappointing, as in Job 6:15. There are many such streams in Palestine. The New Testament calls the same thing cheimarros, "winter flowing" (John 18:1). Its Eastern name is wady.

Crossing the desert in winter is a very different thing from crossing the same desert in summer. In winter people do not need the refreshment of water so much. In the heat of summer they feel the great need of even a drop of water to cool their tongue.

They were like brooks that promised plenty of refreshing water in the winter, when it was not needed.

The streams in winter, swollen by snow and ice, promise blessing and refreshment, but they soon dry up and leave nothing of blessing behind (vv.16-17). Travellers may come expecting water. They find nothing, and they are disappointed and confused. So Job expressed his own confusion at the words of Eliphaz (vv.19-20).

A basic principle says that a sufferer's friends should show him pity… But the hard principle they were applying knew no mercy and felt no sympathy. When his need was desperate, they showed themselves completely unfit to be friends. The "brother born for adversity" they are not. These "brothers" are like a summer stream, swollen by melting snow and ice in winter. It promises a never-failing supply for the thirsty. But when the crowds of travellers come, they find only the dry stones to mock them.

There was not one word of true pity. Every word was shallow, because of the bad judgment, the misjudgment, that lay underneath it.

Yet he had asked nothing unreasonable from them — no money, no rescue from the enemy, only a little sympathy.

Let us learn from Job's failure not to put the dearest earthly friend between us and God.

We make a most serious mistake when we turn to any created thing for help or sympathy in a time of need or pressure. We are sure to be disappointed. The streams that creatures offer are dry. Their props give way. Our God will make us prove the emptiness and folly of all trust in created things, all human hopes, and all earthly expectations. On the other hand, He will prove to us, in the most moving and powerful way, that His own Word is true and full of blessing: "Those who wait for Me shall not be put to shame."

nachal, Genesis 32:23, etc., a mountain torrent often dry in summer, and thus often disappointing, as in Job 6:15. Such are numerous in Palestine. The same is called in the New Testament χείμαρρος, "winter flowing," John 18:1. Its Eastern name is wady.

The winter streams, swollen by snow and ice, promise blessing and refreshment. But they soon dry up, leaving nothing of blessing behind. Travellers may come expecting water, only to find nothing. The disappointment leaves them confused.

He compares it to the desert. He knew the desert well, as they all did. It is a very different thing to cross the desert in winter and to cross the same desert in summer. In winter people do not want the refreshment of water so much. In the heat of summer they feel the great need of even a drop of water to cool their tongue. Then those brooks that cross the desert for a time — the "wadies", as they call them — are completely sucked up by the sand or drawn off by the power of the sun. That is what he compares this to.

At the time of his dire need they showed themselves utterly unfit to be friends. The "brother born for adversity" they are not. These "brethren" are like a summer stream, swollen by melting snow and ice in winter. It promises a lasting supply for the thirsty. But when the crowds of travellers come, they find only the dry stones to mock them. Yet he had asked nothing unreasonable of them — no money, no rescue from an enemy, only a little sympathy.

Eliphaz might speak in lofty language about the greatness and faithfulness of God. But what about himself? Was he acting the part of a true friend? Job might say of them, "Lover and friend You have put far from me." And when these failed, he could not add, "You are with me." Paul's experience was different: "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me… But the Lord stood by me" (2 Timothy 4:16-17). Let us learn from Job's failure not to put the dearest earthly friend between us and God.

One should hold this clearly before the soul: in anything we are doing, we are just going through it with Christ. And the waters will flow freely. No frost ever freezes them. No heat ever dries them up. You may have sorrow, temptation, and everything to try you, but nothing can touch those living waters. And why? Because we are loved with an everlasting love, and it is Christ the fountain of living water who leads us.