For some people the world is black and white: right and wrong. They are not typically the people you want to try to comfort you when you are in pain. It doesn't mean that they don't care, but they are not always the most empathetic people.
Eliphaz was a direct person that saw the world in black and white with no room for gray. He was probably a great business person. However, when he was trying to comfort his friend, Job, he would have done better keeping his mouth shut.
Eliphaz begged Moses to plead his case to God. He assumed that Job resented God since Job declared he wished he had never been born. A person can have complicated thoughts and feelings without resenting God. Eliphaz's words were all true, but they did not apply to Job even if it appeared as if they did.
Eliphaz feared that Job had been cursed for something that he did not mean to do. After all, God would never allow Job to endure all of this if he had not done something wrong. Eliphaz feared that Job was being a fool and needed to humble himself to find hope. Eliphaz's perception was that God was trying to correct Job. Yet, he tried to give it a hopeful sound at the end of his little speech.
Eliphaz was a friend with all the answers, even if the answers were not correct. He truly did care about Job and just wanted to help, but his help only caused more pain. When a person is hurt like Job, they don't need doubt put into their mind to add onto the misery. The truth is that none of us can speak for God. He is the only one with all the answers. We just have perceptions, ideas, and opinions.
Job 5
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