The book of Job opens with the presentation of a man. The writer’s name is not given, the precise location is debatable and the historical time is unmentioned. But the story of this man and his trial has clear and relevant lessons for the Lord’s people of all times and places.
THE MAN AT THE CENTER OF THE CRISIS
Job is called simply, “a man” (1:1), a fact with practical implications. Job was not superhuman; he was as human as we are. Too often we view the men and women of the Bible as living above our existence. We must remember that they were ordinary people that the Lord used in extraordinary ways.
But Job was an impressive man. His character is described in 1:1 as being “blameless…upright…feared God…shunned evil.” His family consisted of “seven sons and three daughters” (1:2). The feasting of 1:4 may be seen in a negative light, but could it not also reflect that this was a close, happy family? Conscious that his children “may” sin, Job interceded before God on their behalf, “early in the morning…regularly” (1:5). He was a dedicated, loving father. As a public figure, his status was “the greatest of…the East” (1:3). He had an honorable reputation. But it is his estimation by God that speaks louder than any praise of men, “There is none like him on the earth…” (1:8). What higher credibility can be given than that which comes from the mouth of God?
In view of the character of this “servant” of the Lord, his trial is illogical to human wisdom. Two devastating days befell Job. The first is described in 1:13-19. He lost everything, including his family. The second brought a disfiguring skin disease (2:7-8) which reduced him to a loathsome figure. Many have suffered losses, but which of us ever lost so much so quickly?
Think of all we have read of Job and consider this question: what kind of people suffer? It is not always the evil who suffer. Often, it seems that the evil prosper (see Ps. 73). In Job we see that the righteous may suffer. Today, in our self-centered culture, much of evangelicalism has embraced a theology that teaches the opposite. If we learn nothing else from Job, we must learn this: the choicest of God’s people may be entrusted with great suffering.
A CONVERSATION IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
A peculiar council is convened at which appear the “sons of God” (1:6). They “present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” We are allowed to listen in as the Lord opens a dialogue and Satan talks with God.
We learn that Satan’s domain is the earth, “going to and fro…walking back and forth in it” (1:7). One Hebrew word, shuwt, is translated, “going to and fro.” It means “to lash (as with oars).” An oar lashing the smooth surface of the water disturbs it, churns it and sends a wake out from its center, an apt picture of the relentless Destroyer.
“Have you considered My servant, Job?” (1:8). Why did the Lord lift up Job? It was out of love! In all the wreckage of humanity strewn along Satan’s path, here was a man of God, “My servant.” Job shone like a jewel in the darkness. Job’s obedience was a rebuke to Satan. Defeated, Satan accused the Lord’s servant, “Does Job fear God for nothing?” (1:9). He question’s Job’s faith. Take the blessings away and he will “curse You to Your face” (1:11).
The stage is set to prove Job. The trial shows that Satan has massive power. He stirs men to evil (1:15, 17), calls fire from the sky (1:16), causes a windstorm (1:19), and afflicts with disease (2:7). In a day when many are carelessly rebuking the devil, we do well to heed the solemn lesson from this scene.
But Satan is completely subject to the Lord. It is only as the Lord permits, “All that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person” (1:12). The Lord sets the limits and Satan can go no further. The same is seen in 2:6. The Lord knew what His servant could bear. He knows what you and I can bear also: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).
WITH FRIENDS LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS ENEMIES?
The majority of the book (35 chapters) consists of a dialogue between Job and four individuals, of which three are described as friends (2:11). Initially, the friends did everything right.
They Were Sincere. When they “heard” they “came” to “mourn with him and…comfort him” (2:11). That’s genuine friendship. Seeing Job, they “lifted up their voices, and wept” (2:12). This was no act; they were truly sympathetic. In remarkable compassion, “they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights” (2:13). They were sensitive to Job’s grief: “no one spoke a word to him.” Here is a lesson for us all. Words at a time like this would have been so empty, even offensive. There are times where nothing need be said; being there is enough.
Eventually, Job speaks. Now, unfortunately, their tongues are loosed. In Eliphaz’s first communication it is evident that they thought they knew why he was suffering. One phrase in 4:7 says it all, “Who ever perished, being innocent?” The implication is obvious: Job was suffering because of sin in his life.
In 11:5, Zophar rebukes Job with, “Oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you, that He would show you”—as if they knew what God was doing. They thought they knew the solution as well. Elihu, a younger brother, put it this way, “If (you) obey and serve Him…(you) shall spend (your) days in prosperity” (36:11), implying that Job was to blame.
Before we condemn these “friends,” do we do the same? How easy it is accuse and judge. Worse than Job’s friends, some do it behind the sufferer’s back. We can be so malicious against a brother or sister in a time of trial. Like Job’s friends, we conclude that they must have sinned. The Lord’s people do suffer because of sin (1 Cor. 11). Known sin must be confronted (1 Cor. 5), yet even then it is to be handled with humility on our part (Gal. 6:1). But Job’s suffering was not due to sin, neither is it always the case with His saints today. Let us be fearful of misjudging. The words of the Lord in 42:7 ought to tighten wagging tongues, “My wrath is aroused against you…for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”
A TOUGH QUESTION WITH NO PRESENT ANSWER
Job’s response was to accept what the Lord allowed. “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away” (1:21). “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (2:10). I am staggered by his faith. What would my response be? In far less difficulty, is my faith as real?
Many close their Bibles here, concluding that Job grinned at the storm and never complained. Read the dialog! In tells of Job’s frustration: with his friends, “You forgers of lies, you are all worthless physicians” (13:4); with his misery, “I have become one in whose face men spit” (17:6); frustrated, above all, that the Lord will not tell him why this is happening, “Show me why You contend with me” (10:2).
In Job’s experience, a full range of emotions is evident: anger, bitterness, sorrow, depression. Indeed, Job despaired of living (7:16; 10:1). Whether we view Job’s words as legitimate or as insolent, even a man as great as Job would be deeply hurt in trial. Remember this when meeting God’s people in trial. The expression of grief does not equal faithlessness.
Job’s faith remained in God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (13:15). Passages like 19:25-27 and 23:10-12 show that Job had not abandoned hope in the Lord. But a trial takes us to the brink, challenging the reality of what we say we believe. Job’s faith, at the brink, proved to be more than words. In times of trial, doubts, fears, and frustrations may arise. In the end, faith is proven real.
Job was wonderfully restored (42:10-15). As far as we know, he never got an answer to the question “Why?” So it often is with us. The Lord seldom shares with us the immediate reason. May the Lord give us grace so that we, like Job, trust Him when there are no short-term answers. But may we find our rest in God’s ultimate answer: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose…to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Rom. 8:28-29).
Written by Gerry Libby