In the course of life we can be presented with many difficult situations and it is there where we must remember the Job's story tells us how a man who went through a lot of calamities, never lost his trust in God, and got his reward. I invite you to read this great story.
Job's story
Job a faithful believer of God. He was characterized by doing the will of God and living in obedience. This biblical character is considered one of the prophets of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity.
The great story of Job that leaves us a great teaching as Christians is told in the Book that bears his name. Usually, he is titled the same way in the Old Testament as in the Tanakh. As for the Qur'an, it talks about Job's patience.
Outline of the book of Job
We get this very interesting and thoughtful story captured in prose in the short preface and in the compendium, even the content of the first section is in Hebrew poetry. Below outline of the book of Job:
- 1:1 to 2:13: Prologue: Satan challenges God and attacks Job.
- 3:1 to 31:40: Dialogue between Job and his three friends (three cycles).
- 32:1 to 37:24: Elihu's speeches.
- 38:1 to 42:6: God's speeches and Job's responses.
- 42:7-17: Epilogue: God rebukes the three friends and restores Job.
Job's story
The story of Job tells us how individuals are often unaware of the ways that Our Father works in the lives of the faithful. As well as in the life of any person. Also in Job's life the question arises why do bad things happen to good people? Certainly, it is a common question and of course very difficult to answer.
However, faithful believers are very clear that our beloved God is in control of all situations because there are no coincidences and nothing happens by chance. Job was a faithful believer; he also knew that God was in total control, but he had no way of knowing and understanding why so many misfortunes occurred in his life. His life was so righteous that God's Holy Spirit describes him as righteous and just.
Job 1: 1
1 There was in the land of Uz a man named Job; and he was this perfect and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.
He had seven sons and three daughters, he was a very rich man with many blessings. The Bible tells us that Satan appeared before God one day, and God asked him what he thought of Job. Satan did not hesitate for a moment to say that Job only glorified him because he had blessed him.
Hence, the Lord consented to Satan so that he would take away all of Job's fortune and also of his children. Later, God additionally allowed Satan to afflict him bodily. Job was intensely disconsolate but did not blame the Lord with such barbarity.
Job 1: 22
22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he attribute any nonsense to God.Job 42: 7-8
7 And it came to pass that after Jehovah had spoken these words to Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My anger was kindled against you and your two companions; because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job.
8 Now, therefore, take seven calves and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer a burnt offering for you, and my servant Job will pray for you; for surely I will attend to him so as not to treat you disgracefully, because you have not spoken of me with righteousness, as my servant Job.
For the most part, the book deals with Job's conversations with three of his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who came to comfort him, but thought he had sinned to get such a heavy punishment. However, Job always steadfastly maintained his innocence. Of course, in this difficult situation for any human being, he confessed that he would like to die and then asked God questions. After the prayers of the younger man, Elihu, he finally gets God to speak to Job out of a whirlwind.
Job responds to the Lord's speech with great humility and repentance, indicating that he spoke of things he did not know (Job 40:3-5; 42:1-6). God tells Job's friends that He was very angry with them, unlike Job, who had told the truth (Job 42:7-8). The Lord also indicated that they promised sacrifices and that Job would pray for them and God would accept his prayer. So Job did, forgiving his friends for his harshness.
God restored Job's fortune twice as much (Job 42:10) and "the Lord blessed Job's last state more than his first" (Job 42:12). Job lived 140 years after his suffering. Job at no time lost his belief in Our Lord, even in the face of desperate circumstances that tested him to the depths of his being.
The fact of losing possessions, properties including children in one day would represent a great affliction, many people would fall into depression even to the point of suicide, after such great losses.
And while overwhelmed and upset enough to denigrate the date of his birth (Job 3:1-26), Job by no means cursed God (Job 2:9-10), on the contrary, he always believed God was in control. . Job knew the Lord well enough to be aware that He did not work that way; he had an intimate personal relationship with God.
He was even able to say, “Behold, though He kills me, I will hope in Him; nevertheless I will defend my ways before Him” (Job 13:15).
Job's wife proposed that he curse our God and leave this world, so Job replied:
Job 2: 10
“As any of the fatuous women is wont to speak, you have spoken. What? Shall we receive good from God, and not receive evil?
Job's Obedience
Job went through many tests, but none made him waver from the loss of his property, the terrible death of his children, the scolding of his friends and even the physical martyrdom he endured. Job was not the only biblical character who suffered, we have for example the Joseph's story
The 7 specific tests that Job went through are listed below:
1. Job's immense loss in earthly things
2. Job's Physical Test
3. Job's Marriage Falls Apart
4. Job, the man who lost his good reputation
5. Job's best friends and his brothers in the Lord inwardly turned away from him.
6. Job's spiritual test
7. The crowning of the test – The revelation of the Lord to Job.
He always knew who his savior was, he also knew that He was a living savior, and he was aware that one day God would be physically on earth (Job 19:25).
Job's spiritual depth appears throughout the book, James refers to him as an example of perseverance.
James 5: 10-11.
Behold, we count those who suffer blessed. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very merciful and compassionate».
Satan's influence
The story of Job allows us to see the veil that separates heavenly life from earthly life. At the beginning of the book, you can see how Satan and his fallen angels were still allowed to enter heaven, hearing of the established meetings that were taking place there.
What can be seen from these passages is that Satan is busy planning his evil on earth as recorded in Job 1:6-7, it is also a fact that Satan was behind the dire trials that Job faced, and that God allowed it.
It even shows us how Satan is "the accuser of the brothers", Revelation 12:10, and demonstrates his arrogance and pride, as described in Isaiah 14:13-14. It is incredible to see how Satan challenges God; he has no scruples to face the Most High God. The story in Job shows Satan as he really is, arrogant and perverse in all his essence.
Perhaps the greatest meaning of the book of Job is that God does not have to account to anyone for what he does or does not do. The story of Job leaves us as a lesson that we never become aware of any specific reason for suffering, but in the same way we must trust our beloved and just Father. Undoubtedly his ways are perfect (Psalm 18:30).
Hence we can trust that what He does, and what He allows, is also perfect.
It is very difficult for us to understand the mind of Our Lord without fear of making mistakes, and that is why He tells us:
Isaías 55: 8-9
“Because my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways… As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts”
It is the responsibility of each one of us to obey and trust Him, but above all to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.
And when it does happen, we will find God in the midst of our struggles, possibly even because of our trials.
Certainly we live in a great world of confusion, pain and bitterness, however, we must and can trust in the determined purpose of God. Do not miss the following audiovisual material of great interest.