Why does Elie regard the weak, starving prisoners as stronger than God? night elie wiesel chapter 5

Elie regarded the weak, starving prisoners as stronger than God because they still prayed. He felt that God had given up on them, and he was amazed that even after all of the suffering and torture they still believed and worshipped.

as his father sleeps, wiesel wathes over the older man, making sure he's safe and breathing.at one point, the elder wiesel"awake with a start. he sag up, bewildered, stunned, like an orphan."what's significant about this particular simile schoice?