The BOOK - Educate from Job

The book of Job is one of the old, if not the oldest, books in the Bible. Trials and suffering are for our education and training. The athlete is not put under strict discipline for punishment, but merely to make him ready for the race. Christ is ever preparing us for the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2). The theme of the book is “why do Godly people suffer?”  

The disciples of Christ thought that suffering was the result of sin in a life (John 9:2). The book of Job was being honoured by God. It was the truth that God could trust Job to remain faithful to God in spite of everything. 

The story of Job is a simple one. It opens with a scene in heaven and then tells of job’s fall from prosperity to poverty. This is followed by the great discussion between Job and his 4 friends: Eliphaz, the religious dogmatist, much like an ancient Pharisee; Bildad, who sought to comfort Job with worn-out platitudes; and Zophar, who thought he had a corner on all religious wisdom. Then comes Elihu, the impetuous youth. Finally, the climax is reached when God speaks. Job answers, at last in a humble spirit, and the problem are solved. 

God has a wise purpose in all of our suffering. God wants to show his manifold wisdom (Ephesians 3:10). He wants the trial of our faith to work patience. He wants to bring out the gold as by fire. He wants to reveal real character. This book tells us much about human suffering. Job’s friends, as thousands do today, made the mistake of thinking that all suffering was God’s way of punishing sin. They asked, “Who, being innocent, has ever perished?” (Job 4:7). God allowed Stephen to be stoned (Acts 7:59) and Paul to have a thorn in his flesh to buffet him (2 Corinthians). Even Jesus knew suffering. Job’s friends concluded that Job must have sinned greatly to account for such exceptional suffering.

Job had a conscience right toward God. He knew his heart was true and so he could accept the accusations of his friends. He finally could show them that their conclusion was wrong and that the wicked often prosper in this world (Job 24:6). When Job was in the midst of his anguish, he realized it is only the gold that is worth putting the fire.

God kept dealing with Job till he came to the very end of himself. Hear him speak again, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. My ears had heard of you but my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3-6). We find Job a chastened, softened servant. God turned the tide and his prosperity was given back to him doubled – twice as many sheep and oxen, asses and camels. He rejoiced again in his son’s and daughters, just the same number as before. 

Job was right with man and with God, and remember it was God who said this. God added, “There is no one on earth like him” (Job1:8). What an honour God gave to Job to use these words to describe him. Job honoured God and obeyed God. I pray for everyone who reads this book of Job, live a life as Job and get the credit from God himself, Amen.