Job 5:3-5

Eliphaz saw these events. So, Eliphaz thought, ‘God is punishing this man.’ And Eliphaz thought that this was fair. Eliphaz was sure that this evil man deserved these troubles.

Perhaps Eliphaz was right about this particular man. But perhaps Eliphaz was wrong. Some people, like Job, suffer although they are not evil. Even if the man was evil, God does not always punish evil men immediately.

Eliphaz thought that every evil person would suffer like this man. The idea was wrong. Some evil people are successful for their whole lives. But God will punish them when they die.

People cannot avoid troubles

v6 The soil does not cause our problems. The ground does not cause our troubles. v7 But, from his birth, a man will suffer troubles. He cannot choose to avoid trouble. A flame does not choose to burn upwards.