Too often in conversations about suffering, one
particular Bible story is not consistently
discussed. The Book of Job is a story that details
the life of one man who was not a distinguished
church figure facing persecution. He was an
everyday man, albeit affluent in possessions and
faith . The Bible describes Job’s financial stature
as making him a noteworthy person in his region
of the east. He had a large family of a wife,
seven sons, and three daughters. In his
possession were also large quantities of land and
animals ( Job 1:2-3 ). Of all that he owned, his
greatest asset was his faith.
“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose
name was Job; and that man was perfect
and upright, and one that feared God, and
eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1 )
Job’s ability to believe was so impressive that he
garnered the attention of God and also Satan. In
this first chapter of Job, we read an account of
God questioning Satan about his schemes. Satan
confesses to roaming about the Earth, and God
asks if the Devil has considered Job. The
question sets Job up for an intense season of
suffering, one that breaks him physically,
emotionally, even spiritually, but he never
forsakes his faith. All this occurs as a test,
allowed by God to show Satan Job’s faith ( Job
1:11-12 ).
Job’s story continues to be relevant to Christians
today because of his ability to believe despite
suffering. His season of loss is a reminder that
no possession or relationship on this Earth is
guaranteed to last forever. Not even our health.
Job found himself losing all that he owned, all
except for his faith. However, Job’s story is not
limited to suffering or maintaining faith amid
trials. There are a number of different lessons we
can glean, but first, we must understand the
purpose of the Book of Job and why it was
included in the Bible.
Who Wrote the Book of Job and Why Is it included in the Bible?
The Bible is authored by a number of different
people, prophets and kings included. There are
even unknown authors of certain passages. As
for the Book of Job, the author is unclear. There
is no indication of the author within the book
itself, and Job’s death is mentioned in chapter
42 , the last chapter of the book. There is
speculation amongst the scholarly community
that Moses wrote the book, but there is no
conclusive evidence.
Even without an author, the story’s inclusion in
the Bible informs us that there is something God
wants to glean from His word (2 Timothy 3:16 ).
In addition to authorial speculation, the inclusion
of Job’s story is believed by some to be
purposed in answering the question of why
innocent people suffer. By the conclusion of the
book, there is no answer given as to why
innocents suffer, but there is a solution, trust.
The idea and word trust appears multiple times
throughout the Bible spoken by different people.
The idea is also present here as Job experiences
suffering and seeks God for help.
5 Important Things to Know about
the Story of Job
- Job Suffered while Innocent
Job did not commit any sin that led to his
suffering. On the contrary, Job’s suffering came
about as God allowed Satan to test his faith. Why
did Job have to suffer at all? The same question
has been asked throughout the ages after events
such as school shootings or natural disasters.
Why do innocent people suffer for seemingly no
reason? And Job was so greatly afflicted by his
problems that he cursed, not God, but the day
that he was born.
“ After this, Job began to speak and cursed
the day he was born .” (Job 3:1 )
This was not an inconvenience that Job
experienced. Life as he knew it was turned
upside down and made into something that
brought him intense pain. Job represents the
truth that innocent people suffer, but by the end
of his story also shows that God is in control the
entire time. God allowed Satan to attack Job
spiritually, emotionally, and physically, but never
to the point of death (Job 2:6 ). God remained in
control. - Job Questioned God
As shown in the Psalms, which follow after the
Book of Job, prayer is shown to be
communication with God that is deep, intimate,
and honest. As Christians, we can talk to God
about things going well in our lives, and also our
troubles. Job did not hide his troubles and spoke
openly.
“ If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
Watcher of humanity?
Why have you made me your target,
so that I have become a burden to you? ”
(Job 7:20 )
In his anguish and confusion, Job sought to have
dialogue with God as a means of understanding
his plight. We are like Job when we experience
suffering. We may ask God questions like “How
long?” or “Why is this happening to me?” Though
not immediately, God does respond to Job later
in the book (Job 38 ). God also answers our
prayers, just in His own timing. In the way God
responds to Job, He makes clear that though we
may ask, our sense of comprehension will never
fully grasp God and His ways. Still, He is
trustworthy. - Job’s Loved Ones Didn’t Help
Job’s wife was the first to reveal her lack of faith
in God. “ His wife said to him, ‘Are you still holding
on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ ” (Job 2-9 )
Job’s response shows just how much faith he
had in spite of her doubts. “‘ You speak as a foolish
woman speaks,’ he told her. ‘Should we accept only
good from God and not adversity? ’ Throughout all
this Job did not sin in what he said” ( Job 2:10 ).
Job posits an excellent question to consider. If
God promises salvation in the form of heaven,
why is life expected by some to only be good?
Job’s three friends when introduced to the story
bear witness to his suffering. They go so far as
to lament on his behalf ( Job 2:13 ). As the Book
of Job continues each friend has a chapter where
they engage in dialogue with Job. Then Job is
given a chapter where he responds. The friends’
attempts to “help” go so poorly that God is
ultimately disappointed in them (Job 42:7 ). God
was so upset he had them offer sacrifices as
repentance. The reason for this is that the
friends blamed Job for his suffering,
unbeknownst to them God allowed Job to suffer
despite being a righteous man.
His friend Eliphaz was the first to blame Job.
“ Consider: Who has perished when he was
innocent” (Job 4:7 )? Their relationship helps us
see how we as believers seek counsel from
others. While people may mean well in their
advice-giving, no one can truly comprehend how
God works in our lives and should not speak on
His behalf. Moreover, suffering is to be
experienced even by the innocents, like Job, not
because someone has committed an offense
against God, but because suffering is a part of
life.
God used Job’s suffering to build him up and
show the Devil that Job would keep his faith. - Job Was Restored
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the
Lord restored his fortunes and doubled his
previous possessions.” (Job 42:10 )
In the end, Job gained more than he lost. And he
was restored in all aspects of his life: health,
family, finances. God showed Job favor as he
remained faithful in his belief. This information is
important because these details reflect the loving
nature of God. God’s love was present despite
Job’s unhelpful friends, wife, and harsh
circumstances.
God does not allow sorrow for the sake of
suffering. He allows us to experience trials to
make us better people and expose weak areas in
our lives. Job was able to learn more about God
during his struggle and further build his trust in
the Lord. Job’s suffering too also allowed God to
affect Job’s friends. They initially blamed Job
and learned that Job hadn’t done anything to
merit his suffering, thus, showing them a side of
God they were unaware of before. - Job Kept His Faith
Throughout the entire book, Job prayed,
struggled, and eventually overcame. He never
stopped having a relationship with God. Nor did
he curse God as his wife encouraged him to do in
the second chapter. Job’s steadfast faith offers
proof that no matter life’s circumstances,
maintaining faith is always a possibility. Whether
we are spiritually, emotionally, or physically
stricken, we can keep our trust in God. He will at
some point deliver us from our troubles, and
make us better from the experience.
A Modern Day Job
As we read and learn from Job we can ascertain
that suffering comes upon all, sinful or guiltless.
Jesus was the only person without sin and even
He knew suffering. While we may encounter our
own unexpected problems like Job, his story
reminds us that even when we don’t understand
why we can put trust in God. That trust is not
limited to circumstances, nor by the “advice”
given by other believers. Trust is not an
explanation of why Job suffered, or why we
suffer. Yet, the idea of trust gives us a solution to
bear the suffering.
No one can fully understand God, and that gives
us all the more reason to pray. And when we
pray and while we wait, we know in the end God
will make us into someone better than where we
started. Job proved that.
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