These are questions I ask myself all the time. I started doing a little research on Job. Man that opened a can of worms. Yout aren't the only one who doesn't understand this chapter. Everything I found on Job said something different from when it was written to what it's all about. I even read multiple sources say that the Satan in the beginning is not the bad Satan we know of but some other angel. Bottom line is nobody knows. Ironically, from what I understand Job never figures out what happens to himself or why either. We are small, God is big. That seems to be the point here.

It does turn out to be true for Job. But... not sure that always applies. http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/stop-taking-jeremiah-2911-out-context Something to consider. Though I agree that Elihu is denying the idea that God cares about us personally, which of course we know much better now that we have the entire story to read.