Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11-13)

168 Hours Of Friendship

The story of Job is the courage of a man who faced overwhelming odds, experienced his own mortality, challenged God wrongfully, and remained a man of faith in the end. Job’s story is one of victory. His faith was put to the test, as few men experience. He sunk in despair in his misery, blaming God. Like any man, Job struggled with the burden of the flesh and the desire to serve the spirit. Compounding his story were three men who came to see him.

Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite were friends of Job. These three men heard of the terrible things that happened to Job and felt the need to visit their dear friend. The story of Job is centered on the discussions between Job and his friends. Before Job and his friends unravel the mystery of life, a story of friendship is established that is often overlooked.

Life is a busy activity of taking care of family, working to support the family and the challenges of living. It isn’t easy to take a lot of time off from the heavy responsibilities of the daily grind. When Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar heard of the tragedy of Job, they could have done many things. They could have sent provisions to Job, couriers telling their friend of their sorrow, or thought within themselves how sorry they were for their friend. What these three men did was a remarkable example of deep friendship.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar planned to leave their families to visit their friend face to face. He needed to see them. Their presence is what was required of the day. Whatever the distance was, it was of no consequence. They made an appointment together to see their friend, mourn with him, and comfort him. Friendship is the willingness to sacrifice the time to help someone in need. Their hearts were broken when they saw him. They could not recognize Job. More importantly – Job recognized them. How his heart must have leaped at the sight of his trusted friends. In the midst of his sorrow, Job experienced friendship.

When the friends of Job planned to visit, they did not plan on stopping by and leaving. They desired to help Job as long as it took. No one could have imagined what would happen next. The three men sat down with Job on the ground. Not on soft cushions of fine silk relaxing in the splendor of riches accustomed by the rich. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar sat on the ground with Job. And they sat there on the ground with Job for a week – seven days – 168 hours – 10,080 minutes. For seven days, no one spoke a word to Job. They watched him day by day take a potsherd and scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.

Job suffered from painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. The three friends watched Job writhe in pain for seven days, and they did not leave him. The nights were long, and the days filled with the sorrow of Job, but they did not forsake their friend. They could have run away, but they remained for seven days without speaking a word. Job spoke first, deploring his birth, and then a conversation ensued with his friends, trying to understand what happened.

Job and his friends were wrong about their conclusions. In the end, God rebuked Job, but the man of God was not lost. His faith was firm, and so was the faith of his friends. What is missed in the story of Job is the faith of his three friends in the beginning and at the end. The friends were indeed wrong in their conclusions. God’s wrath was aroused against Job’s friends, demanding they make sacrifices so that Job could pray for them. They humbled themselves and obeyed the word of the Lord. As they made their way home, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were greater men of faith because of their friendship with Job and their faith in God.

I must learn to be like Job’s friends. We all find ourselves in the place of the three men trying to understand the issues of life. The joy of the story is found at the end when the four men parted ways, more profound in their love for one another and richer in their experience of faith in God. I suspect somewhere among the hosts of witnesses looking down on my wrecked life are four men who understand the value of friendship and the eternal reward of godliness. Thank you, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar; and thank you, Job.