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Response
The story of Job illustrates how humans often do not realize the various ways in which God is active in the lives of believers. Job’s experiences raise the common question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This is a timeless question that is challenging to answer, but believers understand that God is always sovereign, and nothing occurs by mere chance—there are no coincidences. Job, a faithful man, trusted that God was in charge and had complete authority, even though he could not comprehend why he was facing numerous tragic events in his life.
Job was described as “blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” «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). He had ten children and was exceedingly wealthy. According to the Bible, one day Satan appeared before God, and God inquired about Job. Satan alleged that Job only served God because of the blessings he received. Consequently, God permitted Satan to strip Job of his wealth and children. Subsequently, God allowed Satan to inflict physical suffering on Job. Despite his profound grief, Job did not accuse God of any wrongdoing (Job 1:22;Job 42:7–8).
Job’s friends were convinced that Job must have sinned to deserve such punishment and engaged in debates with him. However, Job maintained his innocence, although he expressed a desire to die and questioned God. A young man named Elihu endeavored to speak on behalf of God before God Himself responded to Job. Chapters 38 to 42 of Job contain profound poetry illustrating the grandeur and power of God. Job, in humility and repentance, responded to God’s words by acknowledging his lack of understanding, admitting that he had spoken about things beyond his knowledge (Job 40:3–5; 42:1–6). God informed Job’s friends that He was displeased with them for speaking untruths about Him, unlike Job who had spoken honestly (Job 42:7-8). God instructed them to make offerings and mentioned that Job would intercede for them in prayer, which God would heed. Job complied, likely pardoning his friends for their severity. God doubled Job’s prosperity «And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. », (Job 42:10) and “blessed the latter days of Job’s life more than the former” «So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. », (Job 42:12). Job lived 140 years beyond his ordeal.
Job never lost his faith in God, even amidst the most heart-wrenching trials that tested him profoundly. It is difficult to fathom losing all possessions in a single day—land, belongings, and even offspring. Many would succumb to despair and possibly contemplate suicide after such immense loss. Despite being despondent enough to lament the day of his birth (Job 3:1-26), Job never denounced God (Job 2:9-10) nor did he falter in his belief that God remained sovereign. Conversely, Job’s three companions, instead of consoling him, offered misguided counsel and even accused him of committing sins so grave that God was punishing him with suffering. Job was acquainted enough with God to understand that He did not operate in that manner; indeed, he had such an intimate
He had such a deep, personal relationship with Him that he was able to say, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face” «Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him. », (Job 13:15). When Job’s wife suggested he curse God and die, Job replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” «But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. », (Job 2:10).
Job’s plight, from the death of his children and loss of his property to the physical torment he endured, along with the harangue of his so-called friends, never caused his faith to waver. He knew who his Redeemer was, that He was a living Savior, and that someday He would physically stand on the earth «For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: », (Job 19:25). He understood that man’s days are ordained (numbered) and they cannot be changed «Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; », (Job 14:5). The spiritual depth of Job shines throughout the book. James refers to Job as an example of perseverance, writing, “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and merciful.”
There are also various scientific and historical facts in the book of Job. The book suggests that the earth is round long before modern science with the verse “Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; And he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” (Job 22:14). The book refers to creatures resembling dinosaurs, not explicitly named as such, but the description of the behemoth is certainly dinosaur-like, coexisting with humans (Job 40:15-24).
The book of Job offers us a peek behind the veil that separates earthly life from the heavenly realm. At the beginning of the book, we observe that Satan and his fallen angels still have access to heaven, attending the prescribed meetings there. These accounts clearly depict Satan actively working his evil on earth, as documented in Job 1:6–7. Furthermore, this narrative illustrates Satan as “the accuser of the brethren,” aligning with Revelation 12:10, showcasing his arrogance and pride, as described in Isaiah 14:13–14. It is astonishing to witness how Satan dares to challenge God without hesitation. The depiction in Job reveals Satan’s true nature—proud and inherently evil.
Arguably, the most significant lesson from the book of Job is that God is not accountable to anyone for His actions or inactions. Job’s story teaches us that we may never comprehend the specific reasons for suffering, but we must have faith in our sovereign, holy, and righteous God. His ways are flawless with the verse “As for God, his way is perfect: The word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in him.” (Psalm 18:30). Given that God’s ways are perfect, we can have confidence that whatever He does—and whatever He permits—is for our ultimate good.So perfect. We cannot expect to comprehend God’s mind perfectly, as He reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. . . . For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not. When we do, we will find God in the midst of our trials—possibly even because of our trials. We will see more clearly the magnificence of our God, and we will say, with Job, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” «I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee. », (Job 42:5).
