Godly people suffer? – Job

The book of Job is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, books in the Bible. Why do godly people suffer? This is the theme of this book. People often ask why God permits good people to suffer. The Disciples of Christ thought that suffering was the result of sin in a life (John 9:2). The book of Job gives an entirely different reason for the suffering of Job. In this case, 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 book 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 four 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 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. Job’s friends, as thousands do today, made the mistake of thinking that all suffering was God’s way of punishing sin (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 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 into 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 now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3-6). God turns the tide and his prosperity was given back to him doubles – twice much as many sheep and oxen, asses and camels. He rejoiced again in his sons and daughters, just as before.

Job was right with man and with God, and remember it was God who said this. “There is no one on earth like him” (Job 1:8). What an honor God gave to Job to use these words to describe him.

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). May the Spirit of God leads you to stay holy and faithful in the midst of the trials, temptations and tribulations you go through in life, to come out as pure gold and victorious in Jesus name.