No doubt everyone has heard about Job at some point in time. The book was written to discuss the age-old question, “Why do the righteous suffer?”
Job is one of the five books of poetry, including Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. There are five parts or sections in the Book of Job. The first section is the testing of Job (Job 1:1-2:13).
The second section incorporates three friends giving their answers (Job 3:1-31:40), which itself is divided into three parts, the first discussion (Job 3:1-14:22), the second discussion (Job 15:1-21:34), and the third discussion (Job 22:1-31:40).
The third section is about another man who gives his answers (Job 32:1-37:24). In the fourth section, God gives his answers (Job 38:1-41:34). The last section is about Job’s restoration (Job 42:1-17).
Sources of suffering can come from all aspects of life like personal sin, another person’s sin, avoidable physical (natural) issues, or unavoidable physical issues.
Suffering can be a punishment for wrongdoing; however, that is not always the situation. Success is not generally compensation for being good. Children of God (born-again Christians, believers) are not excluded from tribulations.
We might be unable to comprehend the trial and torment we are experiencing, but it might be the catalyst to draw us closer to God. We need to acquire the ability to perceive Satan's assaults and not be apprehensive.
God sets the constraints of what evil he can do to us. Try not to let any experience make a divider to separate ourselves and God. We cannot govern what Satan does; however, we can control how we respond and react when things begin turning out badly.
Why Does Suffering Happen?
Some individuals contend that this exchange was made up by the writer of this book. Did this discussion between God and Satan truly occur? Other Bible sections let us know that Satan does, without a doubt, approach God (Revelation 12:10).
He even went into God's presence to make allegations against Joshua, the High Priest (Zechariah 3:1-2). On the off chance that this discussion did not occur, then the explanations behind Job's suffering become unimportant, and the Book of Job is decreased to fiction rather than truth.
God referred to Job, his servant. This was an amazing privilege; it put Job in the same category as Moses and David (Numbers 12:7-8; 2 Samuel 7:5). Servants of God are devoted to him in everything that they do, and they serve him with their entire lives.
Job was a model of obedience and trust in God. Along these lines, God allowed Satan to assault Job in a particularly cruel way. Despite the fact that God loves us, accepting and submitting to him does not shield us from life's disasters.
Various misfortunes and distresses strike Christians and non-Christians just the same. Yet, in our tribulations, God anticipates that we should communicate our faith to the world. How do we answer our difficulties? Do we ask God, “Why me, Lord?” or do we say, “Use me, Lord!”?
Satan assaulted Job's intentions, saying that he was simply being righteous because he did not have an obvious explanation to betray God.
Since the time he had begun following God, everything had worked out positively for him. Satan needed to demonstrate that Job venerated God, not out of affection, but since God compensated him fairly.
Satan precisely dissected the reason many individuals trust God. They are fair-climate believers, following God just when everything is working out positively or for what they can get. Misfortune obliterates this shallow faith.
Nevertheless, difficulty fortifies genuine faith by making true Christians dig their underlying foundations more profoundly into God so that they can endure the tempests.
How profoundly does our faith go? We should place the underlying foundations of our faith rooted deeply in God so we can endure any tempest that we might confront.
How Do We Respond to Suffering?
1 Peter 1:13 tells us to gird up our minds, be sober, and hope. 1 Peter 5:8-9 tells us that lions assault the wiped out, youthful, or straying creatures; they pick the casualties who are distant from everyone else or are not ready.
Peter cautions us to look out for Satan when we are persecuted or suffering. Feeling alone, feeble, powerless, or cut off from other Christians, we become so centered on the difficulties that we neglect to look for risk.
It is during those times that we are particularly helpless against Satan's assaults. During times of affliction, we should look to other Christians for help.
Keep our eyes on Christ and resist the devil. Then, at that point, says James, “he will flee from you” (James 4:7). We are to encourage one another to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22).
Christ will send his Spirit to reinforce the individuals who are mistreated for their faith. This does not imply that all suffering is the consequence of good Christian direction.
Here and there, an individual will protest, “They are simply singling out me since I am a Christian,” when it is undeniable to every other person that the individual's own upsetting conduct is the reason for his concerns.
It might take cautious guidance or astute counsel to decide the genuine reason for our anguish. Nonetheless, we can be guaranteed that at whatever point we suffer in view of our devotion to Christ, he will accompany us always (1 Peter 4:14-16).
We are to rejoice, though for a season for the trial of faith might be found unto praise and glory (1 Peter 1:6-7). We are heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, and as we suffer with him, we will be glorified together (Romans 8:17).
As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, consolation also abounds by Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5).
If we suffer, then we shall reign (2 Timothy 2:12). Blessed are we for his sake (Matthew 5:11). We are counted worthy to suffer for his name (Acts 5:41).
When we unite ourselves with Christ, we have the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, and being made like him unto his death (Philippians 3:10).
From a strong tempest, God talked to Job. Shockingly, he did not address any of Job's inquiries since Job's inquiries were not at the core of the issue.
All things being equal, God utilized Job's obliviousness of the world's natural directive to uncover his obliviousness of God's glory.
In the event that Job did not comprehend the functions of God's actual creation, how is it that he could comprehend God's character and mind?
There is no norm or rule higher than God himself by which to pass judgment. God himself is the norm. Our only choice is to submit to his sovereignty and rest in his compassion (Job 38:1).
God speaks, but we might not know the answer. Like Job, if we do not comprehend the workings of creation, how can we comprehend the mind and manner of God.
What Does This Mean?
We must identify and surrender to God’s might and ruling; then, can we hear God. Are we worse off than Job? Are we more righteous than Job?
Do we plead our innocence to God or offer our humility? We should not question God’s justice but repent of our attitude.
True faith begins with being humble. If God had not restored Job, would the message have been different?
I do not think so. Our restoration may not be on this earth, but it will be completed. We are to be prepared for trials, persevere through those trials, and continually give praise to God.
For further reading:
Why Does the Christian Life Lead to Suffering?
What Does the Bible Say about Suffering?
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