Job 18:7
“The steps of his strength shall be shortened. His own counsel shall cast him down.”
What does Job 18:7 mean?
Bildad is describing what happens when someone turns away from God, using the image of a powerful person whose stride suddenly becomes weak and halting. He's saying that whatever confidence or schemes someone relies on instead of seeking wisdom from God will ultimately backfire and bring them down. This comes from one of Job's friends trying to convince him that his suffering must be punishment for wrongdoing. While Bildad's theology oversimplifies (as the book of Job itself challenges), the underlying truth resonates: when we trust only in our own plans and cut ourselves off from God's guidance, we eventually run out of strength and our strategies fail us. It's a sobering reminder that self-reliance without humility often leads to a fall.