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Job’s Character and His Catastrophic Loses
Job was a wise, righteous, eloquent and compassionate man in the patriarchal age who loved God, his family and his neighbours. Job enjoyed great respect. Though wealthy, he was humble. Job dealt fairly, generously, justly and magnanimously with people from every walk of life, widows, orphans, blind, lame, needy, oppressed needing justice and liberty from the wicked, and his peers (Job 29).
Spiritually and morally, Job was “blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil” (Job 1:1, 8; 2:3; cf. Proverbs 3:7–8). Though Job doesn’t know it until the end of the book, God refers to him as “My servant Job” (1:8; 2:3; 42:7 and 8 three times). Job was very concerned about the spiritual well-being of his children. He consecrated them and offered sacrifices on their behalf just in case any may have sinned (1:4–5).
For reasons unknown to himself, Job suffered catastrophic losses. Unbeknownst to Job, the all-knowing (omniscient) narrator of Job allows us to view the scenes in heaven when the adversary (the Satan, Satan) incited God against Job: “you (the Satan) incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause” (1:6–12; 2:1–3–6). Though the actions of the adversary, Job lost his 550 oxen, 500 donkeys, servants, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, his 10 children and his health (1:13–22; 2:7–13).
Job’s initial response to his loses revealed the profound depth of his faith and trust in God regardless of his circumstances, and his perspective on the brevity of life:
“‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’” (1:21)
“‘Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (2:10)
Hearing of his loses, three of Job’s friends “come to sympathise with him and comfort him” (2:11). Job is so disfigured from his suffering they do not recognize him. They see his pain and then they do the best thing they will ever do for Job, they listen, “they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him” (2:13).
The Speeches of Job, His Friends, Elihu and the LORD
Job breaks the seven days of silence by lamenting with anguish the day of his birth. He wishes he had died then. He asks,
“Why is light given to him who suffers…to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?” (3:20, 23).
This is the first of many questions that Job wants to hear God answer.
Immediately after Job’s lament, his friends engage with him in three rounds of speeches from chapters 4 to 26. Job responds to each in turn. Eliphaz the Temanite speaks first, perhaps because he is seen as the eldest, a mature spiritual statesman. Then the traditionalist, Bildad the Shuhite speaks. Finally, the orthodox dogmatist, Zophar the Naamathite, who only speaks in the first two rounds.
The underlying logic of the “friends” accusatory arguments quickly becomes exposed in their formula (syllogism): 1) sin causes suffering, 2) Job is suffering, 3) therefore, Job has sinned. Job refutes their logic and shows some wicked people do prosper (17:7ff). He maintains his integrity and innocence. Job turns his focus away from defence to his appeal to God for a meeting with Him, His Redeemer, to get the true reason for his suffering. While Job says many things out of frustration, he also says many things about God which the Lord affirms are right in chapter 42:7–8.
Job’s final speech from chapters 27 to 31, brilliantly reviews the profound value and importance of finding God’s wisdom, reflects on his life before his suffering and denies his friends’ accusations of sin. He concludes with conditions, many “if’s.” If God can prove him guilty of sin, he will bear the consequences.
Before Job hears directly from God, Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite a descendant of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Genesis 22:20-21) speaks. He is angry at Job for justifying himself and at his three friends for finding no answers. Elihu stresses the various ways that God uses to communicate His will and the necessity of doing His will, even though humans cannot fully comprehend Him and His overwhelming power. Elihu tries to raise Job’s focus from himself to God, and His glory and sovereignty, preparing the way for God to speak in chapters 38 to 42.
Finally, Job has his hearing with God though it is very different than He envisioned. Job had pictured himself presenting his questions to God for His answers but he was shocked and humbled to find it was God who had bigger questions for him:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! 4 Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me if you have understanding” (Job 38:1–4ff).
While questioning Job, God speaks to him about the majestic wonders of His Creation: the earth, seas, morning, weather, constellations, lions (38) and the mountain goats, wild donkey, ostrich, horse, hawk (39). Job responds briefly confessing his insignificance and covering his mouth (40:3–5). God then challenges Job: if he can “annul My judgment,” “condemn Me” and humble the proud, then “your own right hand can save you” (40:6–14). The LORD then turns to describe two muscular invincible marvels of His Creation, Behemoth and Leviathan (40:15–41:34; perhaps the hippopotamus or water-ox, and the serpent, sea monster, perhaps a crocodile).
Job responds confessing to the LORD,
“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ 5 I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; 6 Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes” (42:2–6).
God’s Vindication and Restoration of Job
The LORD judges Job’s three friends and vindicates Job: “…the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has’” (42:7).
While Job spoke many things from his perspective about his suffering, God vindicates him for speaking what is right about Him. God restores all Job’s wealth in livestock two fold, gives him 10 more children, “And Job died an old man and full of days” (42:17). While Job never learned about the adversary’s incitement of the LORD, the cause of his suffering, nor its reason or purpose, he has a greatly expanded understanding of God and what God thinks of him.
What Does God Teach Us in Job?
Through this magnificent book, God teaches us many important lessons about Himself, Job, his friends, human nature all, of which are precious and powerful gifts of wisdom for living with and serving God today:
- God is sovereign, Creator, Redeemer, compassionate and the vindicator of His faithful servants (compare His ultimate vindication of all His faithful servants in the Book of Revelation).
- God is a lot bigger, and has a lot more concerns for His Creation, than Job, or we, ever imagined.
- God is worthy of our steadfast faith and trust.
- Suffering is not always due to sin (cf. John 9:1–5).
- The wicked do prosper on earth for a season but ultimately face God’s judgment and justice (17:7ff).
- God addresses some dimensions of the problem of theodicy (God’s justice in the face of suffering): some suffering is caused by the adversary and his evil forces in the spiritual realm but ultimately God is able to rescue and restore His people from these completely.
- We will know much more when we are safely in God’s eternal presence and glory forever.
- God frequently wants to accomplish things in and through us that are not about us but for the benefit of others.
- The best way to comfort someone whose loses we don’t understand is to listen.
- Though many things are beyond our comprehension, God knows everything and everyone, and cares deeply for His servants.
- God wants us to constantly engage with Him, even with our difficult experiences and hard questions.
- Patience and endurance in suffering, waiting for God’ compassion and mercy:
- You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. (James 5:8–11)
- We believe in, worship and serve God for who He is regardless of circumstances, opposition or blessings/rewards or the lack thereof.
- God our Redeemer lives forever so our eternal hope in Him is secure,
“And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold” (Job 19:25–27a).
- Always speak of God “what is right as My servant Job has” (42:7, 8).
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