Man’s Hope is Doomed - Job 14

Job 14:18-19 (ESV Strong's)
“But the mountain falls and crumbles away,
and the rock is removed from its place;
the waters wear away the stones;
the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
so you destroy the hope of man.

Man’s Hope is Doomed

Job, in these early chapters of the “talk” between him and his three “friends,” is in a state of depression.  His three friends are in a state of judging Job.   It is hard to find truth in the midst of the babel going on between them (such it is in many counseling interactions).    In this immediate section we see that Job has concluded his “hope” is destroyed ... and, destroyed by God.    The word pictures he uses is that of a mountain being slowly crumbling away by the elements of the rain, wind and storm; and, the torrents that can rush through a land and wash away the soil of the earth, right under our feet.   The pictures give us some understanding of Job’s state of mind, but also of how calamity can take down even the strongest of faith and flesh.   A mountain does not just crumble.   A mountain might have pieces fall of from the washing of the elements, but the mountain doesn’t just one day fall over.  The word picture here is probably showing the wear and tear over time that Job’s suffering (and ours) can have on a soul.  Even the strongest of faith (a mountain of it), in the midst of constant calamity) can destroy our “hope;” the strength we hold on to in times of trouble.  For some that strength might be wealth, or relationships, or possessions, or fame, or power, etc.     The second world picture is showing us quickly a calamity can come rushing into our lives and immediately remove the soil under feet.  This is what happened to Job in chapter one of this book.  Immediately his children, possessions and status were removed by the rush of Satan’s power.   Job was sinking.   This is what he means when he says that God destroys man’s hope.  If our hope is in the things that can crumble and be taken away, we have no hope.  But, if our hope is in Christ, who can not be taken away, we have a firm foundation.   God is the God of a firm foundation.  He allows these things to happen in our lives, not out of hate or lack of care.  He allows these things to remove the props we have in our lives that are designed to replace our leaning completing on Him.  God destroys our hope ... the false hope we have in the various “foundations” we have set for ourselves.   This is what Job has discovered in his own life.  He has found that God allowed his prosperity, his family and his status in the community to be completely removed.  The only thing he has left is God.  That is the point of the story.   We come to God thinking about all the “blessings” we receive or will receive.  We falsely think those blessings are other than Christ.   Note how David said it in the Psalms:

Psalms 16:8-11 (ESV Strong's)
I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

David put God “before” himself and, in return, God put “Himself” before David’s eyes.  Note the last lines of this Psalm:  
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore and AT YOUR RIGHT HAND ARE PLEASURES FOREVERMORE.   We may not remember, but the Bible says that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God.   So, the blessings that God promises are that of our Savior.  All the other props, God is destroying.