Though Job lapsed in response to their insensitive assertions, their remarks were no less wrong. Additionally, to suggest that all suffering is the direct consequence of a particular sin on our part is unwise, unhelpful, and incorrect. Instant retribution is true on occasions, in that sometimes God will judge sin straight away. But it was not so in this case. Some trials do not go away quickly.
Prayer is always the first resort.
But sometimes, prayer will not remove the trial. It came following his instinctive desire for its removal. Much needless pain is added whenever we suggest that it is the essence of saintliness to acquiesce to pain without any reluctance on our part. Job's initial responses in chapters 1 and 2 are breathtaking, but we are also to learn that his later questioning is not necessarily something about which God disapproves. Job erred, it is true.