Job
Read time: 6 minutes
A friend of mine once commented that sometimes God doesn’t treat his friends very well. What is the answer to the problem of evil in the world? In the bible we come close to getting the answer in the Book of Job. But in reality, we really don’t. We are left with more questions than answers.
At the beginning of the Book of Job we learn that he is a righteous man. Although not an Israelite, he worships God and we see him sacrificing burnt offerings for his sons because “it may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This he did continuously for his family. Job’s spiritual and moral integrity are established at the outset.
Then God tells Satan, look at my servant Job, there is no one like him on earth, blameless and upright. Then Satan answers that it is because you have blessed him but take away those blessings and he will curse you to your face.
God permits Satan to take away all that he has, but he is not allowed to take his life. It seems that God sometimes permits bad things to happen to good people. We all struggle with this in one way or another throughout our lives.
Job loses everything and he is afflicted in his body as well. All he is left with is Mrs. Job and she was to heighten his suffering, “curse God and die”.
Then his 3 friends or counselors come along, and they try to convince him that he must have sinned, and they try to get him to repent. But Job is blameless and doesn’t understand why this is happening to him. He has many doubts and questions, and his friends are convinced that he has sinned. Readers know, as does Job himself that he is blameless.
Finally, reaching the end of his rope, he swears an oath of innocence, and utters a litany of self-curses for sins he has never committed. Now the stage is set for God to intervene.
God provides no answers. He begins to ask Job questions, that are beyond Job’s understanding. God reprimands Job for justifying himself rather than declaring God is in the right. In the end confronted with God’s majesty, Job is quick to humble himself and back down. He has learned that divine Providence is alive and well, even in the lives of individuals. He found that true wisdom is humility before God, and some things are simply beyond human understanding. Job is never told why he was made to suffer, but he trusts God and God knows what is best for him.
Job is tested and found faithful. Then God doubles His blessings and restores his health and happiness once more.
Are there any lessons that we can learn from this story?
The first is about the value of prayer. In this case, intercessory prayer. Job prays for his sons and intercedes to God in case his sons have sinned. He does this continually, and I imagine that he prayed for his entire family and others as well. After his trial, God asks Job to pray for his 3 friends who had sat in judgment of Job by only looking at outward appearances. Job intercedes for them and his prayer is heard. Was anyone praying for Job? Or was he just written off and condemned by everyone.
The second is that Job is a type of Christ. The question of suffering receives its ultimate explanation in Christ. Christ is the innocent sufferer par excellence. Through the Passion of Jesus, God is not indifferent to the suffering of the human race. Through the Incarnation, Jesus tasted all the bitterness of human rejection and pain. He revealed that suffering is a means of redemption, and not just a way to improve one’s moral character. Early Christians viewed Job as a foreshadowing of Christ crucified and of the Church persecuted in imitation of Him.
God blesses Job and restores his fortunes twofold. This restoration of Job is a symbol of what Jesus has promised to us. It is much more than double, Jesus promised us nothing less than eternal life and to share in His very own life.
When we see suffering, or we see all the injustice and evil in the world we have many of the same questions and doubts that Job had. I’m not saying that we should remain passive and not fight against evil and suffering, because we should. It is only natural for us to want answers. The only answer is Jesus Christ.