Job 14:16  For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17  My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18  And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19  The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20  Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21  His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22  But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Job understood that God knew all about him. Job knew that God was well aware of any and all of his sin. It is important for all people to understand that no one hides any sin from God. We know there are unsolved crimes in our world. Some of those never get solved. The perpetrator dies and the crime remains unsolved. However, God knows all about it.
Job was complaining to God about what he assumed was His dealings with him. In verse 17 Job was accusing God of knowing what his sins were, but He had sealed them up in a bag so that Job did not know what they were. Job is accusing God of being unjust in His dealings. Job is acting in a state of despair. He is not seeing the big picture and is making statements that were not based in fact.
In verse 18 Job talked of the rocks that crumble off a mountain. Those rocks tumble down the side of the mountain and as they tumble they break apart and they come to nothing. They break into pieces and the rock is moved out of its place.
In verse 19 Job referred to the stones in a stream. We know that the water is capable of wearing down rocks over time. The sharp edges are worn off and the rocks are made smaller over time. If the stream is strong enough, it can move the smaller rocks out of their place. Job was using this analogy to complain that God removes the hope of man. Job was seeing things in a very dark manner. This is not good for his soul and spirit. God would not allow Job to remain in that place for long. Again we see why a good local church is so important. We need other saints to help us through the difficult times in life. The devil likes to try to play with the minds of the saints. He likes to find a way to erode the hope and truth from the saint.
In verse 20 Job understood that God is much bigger than man. Eventually man dies. He has no recourse against the true God. Job is suggesting that God is not acting in a fair manner. Man has no way to react against God. Job needed to understand that man does not need to react against God. Man needs to submit to God. When a man submits to God, he will face great blessings from God. The troubles that Job was facing, were not the work of God. Due to the fall of man, he will face trouble. God warned Adam and Eve of the trouble that they and their descendants would face. Adam did not stop and consider the drastic consequences of his sin. Many people today do not consider the drastic consequences of rebelling against God. Job did not understand that the troubles he was facing were not God’s fault. They also were not Job’s fault. They were the result of living in a sin-cursed world.
The charismatics want to make the claim that if a person has enough faith, they should never face trouble. Some of them can get quite upset when you point out to them what Job faced. There are some very popular liars among the charismatics. People do not want to face trouble. People want peace and success. God promises spiritual peace and spiritual success to those who walk in the fear of God. God does not promise absence of troubles in this life. When the saints get to heaven, there will be no trouble.
The Bible reminds true Christians that this is not our final home. We are just passing through this place. It can be a bumpy road going through this world. Job discovered this and did not look at the bigger picture. He could only conclude that God was being unfair to him.
In verse 21 Job complained that due to a man’s death, he will not even know of the honour that his children may achieve. He also does not know if his children end up in poverty or as a criminal in prison. The dead father does not know any of this.
In verse 22 Job further referred to his suffering. He was having pain in his life and it was affecting him physically and spiritually. His soul was mourning. Job was not finding any joy in life. He could not agree with the Psalmist in Psalm 1 at this point in his life.
Our physical circumstances can overwhelm us at times. Job was facing these challenges as a man who feared God. He could commune with God even though he wrongly assumed that God was after him. Those who are lost have no hope. They face their troubles alone and then they spend eternity in hell. Job needed to learn some things about God and about life. He had the right foundation upon which to learn those things.

I Corinthians 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We need to make sure we have that right foundation. If we know the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, He will not leave us in the pits. He will work to bring us to see His goodness. He will also bring us safely into our heavenly rest one day soon. Trust in Him and glorify Him.
Pastor Bartel