Job - A servant of God |
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The question of suffering has always troubled people. Why do we suffer? And why, in particular, do good people have difficult lives?
The book of Job introduces a very straightforward scenario. Job was a man who had everything: wealth, family, the respect of his community, and a close relationship with God. But then he lost all his material possessions in a matter of moments. How would he react? Would he curse God and choose death above life? Or would he remain faithful to God whom he trusted completely?
In heaven above, great interest was taken in Job's case. It was Satan himself who had chosen to afflict Job. Job was a servant of God - and Satan chose to afflict Job in the expectation that Job would turn against his master, God. So Job's predicament mattered to Satan - and also to God himself.
But Job knew nothing of this. He assumed that he was alone in all his troubles. Alone, that is, except for his three faithful friends who stayed with him.
And so the great debate of the book of Job begins. Each of the friends tries to persuade Job with what seems to be sensible advice: Turn from your sins - you would not be suffering if you were not guilty. But Job insists that his heart is right before God. Job is sure that God cannot be punishing him for any sin. Job affirms that God is a fair judge. If only God would come to hear Job's case, then Job would be vindicated. So Job cannot see why God afflicts him.
All of this debating is done in the finest poetry. These are beautiful passages of the saddest poetry. They rise to heights of emotion and descend to the depths of sorrow. And in these long passages, there are plentiful insights to study, to observe - but mostly, to think about. The book's aim to get you to think about these things.
Eventually, a fourth friend joins in. The writer of the book of Job makes Elihu seem so ambiguous. Is he really speaking the word of God - or are his words just empty babblings? In fact, Elihu's speech is very perceptive; but his role is not really to draw attention to himself, but to announce that God himself is coming to take part.
When God arrives, accompanied by a great storm, there can be no more debate. Job's words were unwise; he defended himself too much - his duty was only to affirm that God is right. And the friends were foolish - they accused Job without reason.
At God's instruction, Job, the servant of God, must act as priest on behalf of his friends. He presents their sacrifice, and prays for them. And that is, at last, when God acts on behalf of Job. Job is restored. And God is vindicated in the trust that he placed in Job. Job remained God's faithful servant till the end. And Satan was proven to be a liar.