The book of Job and his interactions with God is something that all Christians can learn from and cherish as we go through life with certain trials and sufferings. The author of the book is uncertain, though most speculate it was Job. At least for most of the book. Scholars believe that Moses wrote the last parts of the book as indicated of Job's death in Job 42:17. Again, the author is mere speculation.
The interpretation and purpose for the book of Job should be classified as a unique moral poetry that is based on historical events. It wasn't intended to be like a reporter's transcript of what happened, but rather the dramatic and poetic forms written out as an artistic presentation of what happened. When we read this book, it demonstrates to Christians the inadequacy of human reasoning to account for the suffering of the innocent. So, we are resigned to an attitude of trust and dependence on a good and loving God whose workings on humanity we cannot fathom.
3 Important Affirmations of Job
1. Satan can only touch a believer when God allows it.
2. God is greater than our problems, even our physical ones.
3. Remember, our problems are not Eternal.
Job, Chapters 1 and 2
Job was from the land of Uz and "was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." Job was blessed with alot of land and many possessions as well as his sons. He was a well respected and popular judge. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan came also among them." Interesting that satan still has access to Heaven, though fallen from his original state. God, having all knowledge, knew what was on satan's mind and heart. The evil one says to God, "Doth Job fear God for naught?" Here God allows Job to be afflicted, but does not allow satan to take his life.
Satan's Accusations and Claims
Satan's claim, "Hast thou not made a hedge around him.........But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Satan indicated God's claims of Job's righteousness as being untested. He accused Job of being faithful only for what he could get out of it.
Does this sound like prosperity gospels? Satan thought that Job did not serve God with pure motives. The adversary's confidence probably came from the fact he was able to convince the holy angels to rebel with him. God allowed him to try and make his point, but the devil failed, instead showing that true Faith is unbreakable.
Does God Lack Compassion and Mercy Toward Job?
Not at all. James 5:11, "Ye have heard of the 'patience of Job', and have seen the end of the Lord: that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Job states that if we accept the good things from the Lord, we should also be patient and endure through adversity. At the end of Job's afflictions and trials, God flooded Job with more blessings than he had ever known. Job's endurance of faith from the death of his children, the loss of property, the physical illness, and the lack of faith from family members and friends, was always strong.
Some Truths to Job's Experience
1. There are things going on in the spiritual realm/Heaven that we know nothing of and yet still effects us.
2. Even the smartest theologians, philosophers, and scientists on earth fall very short at explaining the issues of life.
3. Christians do suffer during the journey of life. But we cannot blame one's faithfulness by their sufferings or success.
4. NEVER abandon God in the midst of sufferings.
Job 40:4
"Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." This is simply a humble reply to an omnipotent and omniscient God.
Though Job never turned away from the Lord, he did make his complaints known. After all, Job is human and was experiencing very difficult situations. Its interesting that after all of Job's complaints in Chapter 38, God asks Job a total of 39 questions. Then the Lord goes on in the next chapters asking Job 44 more questions, of which Job cannot answer a single one. Job never knew the reasons for his afflictions and neither did his family and friends. As Christians, we may never know the reasons for our sufferings and afflictions either. There are many times when the suffering of people is just not understandable. Why people have to suffer is often times unknowable and may serve God's purpose on earth which we simply cannot discern, John 9:1-3. This story of Job reveals the importance of trusting God in the middle of one's suffering. Our human experiences are often times directed by God's perfect Divine wisdom. When there are no rational or theological explanations for disaster, suffering, and pain...........trust God.
The interpretation and purpose for the book of Job should be classified as a unique moral poetry that is based on historical events. It wasn't intended to be like a reporter's transcript of what happened, but rather the dramatic and poetic forms written out as an artistic presentation of what happened. When we read this book, it demonstrates to Christians the inadequacy of human reasoning to account for the suffering of the innocent. So, we are resigned to an attitude of trust and dependence on a good and loving God whose workings on humanity we cannot fathom.
3 Important Affirmations of Job
1. Satan can only touch a believer when God allows it.
2. God is greater than our problems, even our physical ones.
3. Remember, our problems are not Eternal.
Job, Chapters 1 and 2
Job was from the land of Uz and "was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." Job was blessed with alot of land and many possessions as well as his sons. He was a well respected and popular judge. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan came also among them." Interesting that satan still has access to Heaven, though fallen from his original state. God, having all knowledge, knew what was on satan's mind and heart. The evil one says to God, "Doth Job fear God for naught?" Here God allows Job to be afflicted, but does not allow satan to take his life.
Satan's Accusations and Claims
Satan's claim, "Hast thou not made a hedge around him.........But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Satan indicated God's claims of Job's righteousness as being untested. He accused Job of being faithful only for what he could get out of it.
Does this sound like prosperity gospels? Satan thought that Job did not serve God with pure motives. The adversary's confidence probably came from the fact he was able to convince the holy angels to rebel with him. God allowed him to try and make his point, but the devil failed, instead showing that true Faith is unbreakable.
Does God Lack Compassion and Mercy Toward Job?
Not at all. James 5:11, "Ye have heard of the 'patience of Job', and have seen the end of the Lord: that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." Job states that if we accept the good things from the Lord, we should also be patient and endure through adversity. At the end of Job's afflictions and trials, God flooded Job with more blessings than he had ever known. Job's endurance of faith from the death of his children, the loss of property, the physical illness, and the lack of faith from family members and friends, was always strong.
Some Truths to Job's Experience
1. There are things going on in the spiritual realm/Heaven that we know nothing of and yet still effects us.
2. Even the smartest theologians, philosophers, and scientists on earth fall very short at explaining the issues of life.
3. Christians do suffer during the journey of life. But we cannot blame one's faithfulness by their sufferings or success.
4. NEVER abandon God in the midst of sufferings.
Job 40:4
"Behold I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." This is simply a humble reply to an omnipotent and omniscient God.
Though Job never turned away from the Lord, he did make his complaints known. After all, Job is human and was experiencing very difficult situations. Its interesting that after all of Job's complaints in Chapter 38, God asks Job a total of 39 questions. Then the Lord goes on in the next chapters asking Job 44 more questions, of which Job cannot answer a single one. Job never knew the reasons for his afflictions and neither did his family and friends. As Christians, we may never know the reasons for our sufferings and afflictions either. There are many times when the suffering of people is just not understandable. Why people have to suffer is often times unknowable and may serve God's purpose on earth which we simply cannot discern, John 9:1-3. This story of Job reveals the importance of trusting God in the middle of one's suffering. Our human experiences are often times directed by God's perfect Divine wisdom. When there are no rational or theological explanations for disaster, suffering, and pain...........trust God.
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