Book of Job
The Book of Job was a book that had no known author or date. The book is about the deal of suffering that occurred to a man named Job, and the process of going from complete loss to complete reward.
In ancient times, people had beliefs that popular and prosperous people were godly people, whereas, people who were poor and suffering were ungodly. Job was a person with wealth and godliness. However, satan wanted to test the godliness/faith of Job, and brought the case before God. Satan had accused Job that his faith was insincere or not genuine. God allowed the test, but under conditions; that satan may do anything to Job or take freely from him, but he was not to harm Job in any way. First, Job’s working animals were removed. Next removed were sheep and shepherds, camels, and then all his children. However, Job was still content with God. Job spoke that he would sacrifice possessions (including his family), as long as he avoided suffering.
After that, satan brought the case before God, and therefore, God allowed him to attack Job’s body, so Job was afflicted. Job wasn’t troubled but his wife lost faith. Most of Job’s friends deserted him, and only three of them stuck around and attempted to comfort him. They hated to see Job like this (as they were probably very close to Job and cared for him and not just his wealth and possessions), and so they wept for several days. Job then disrupts the silence after a few days, wishing he had never been born. Through an argument between everyone, from Elphaz’s reply (with Job responding to each person who spoke), Bildad’s reply, and Zophar’s reply – Job asked God why he makes the innocent suffer. After that, he wonders what accusations God has for him. He wished for Sheol to be only temporary, so that he could gain a relief from suffering, and be in fellowship with God. He didn’t care if he ever saw his friends again, for he just wanted to be with God.
Another argument kicked in, with Eliphaz beginning, then Bildad, and lastly Zophar speaking (as Job replied to each of them). Through this, they speak of their own wisdom not being acknowledged, and that Job cannot ignore what he’s learned. Through wavering faith, Job still could not feel good (especially about his suffering). The last argument came up, and as usual, Eliphaz speaks first. Job is blamed for sinfulness, and that he deserved punishment from God. In addition, that Job should repent and submit unto God in a humble way so that he may be forgiven. Job replied that he is so confident that he is righteous, and that sin is not a problem (not claiming he is sinless, though). He claims to know God and that God can see him and his righteousness. Bildad gets a word in as well with Job replying.
Soon, Elihu begins speaking, where he talks about God’s instruction to humans though affliction, God’s justice and Job’s assumptions, righteousness not coming with profit, and God’s majesty versus Job’s ignorance. After this, God answers Job, and revealing Himself to Job. Job repeatedly challenged God before, and therefore, God now accepts the challenge by replying. He begins to ask Job rhetorical questions (that is, ones that he cannot answer), in order to show Job His greatness and how little that he (Job) knows. Much of the questions that God asked were about the beginning of the world, to which Job is clueless of what to answer.
Next, God challenges Job to present his own arguments, but Job has no argument to present. God has proved unto Job that people cannot fully understand what God does, and this made Job sorrowful before God. Now, God isn’t finished, as He then asks Job about the accusations of injustice from Him. Job was challenged to take the position of God, but if so, then he’d have to deal with the beasts, such as the Behemoth, or the Leviathan. In addition, God had not given a reason for the sufferings. Job, though, has seen how awesome God is through this revelation, and begins to have peace once again. Job has nothing more to say to accuse God or to demand anything of God. Job chose only to worship God. His three friends were declared wrong. The friends just talked about God, but Job talked to God!
Now, Job was not haughty or arrogant of his victory, and his friends were not bitter, either. Job prayed for his friends, and his friends repented before God for their accusations. Satan was now also proved wrong, for Job had passed the series of tests, and God was pleased with Job. Not only were Job’s disease healed, he had good health. In addition, God gave him new children, which would replace those who had died. Lastly, he was twice more wealthy than he was before the suffering!
