Struck By Misfortune

The book of Job in the Bible is a long tale of misfortune and suffering. Why are people suffering? It is an eternal question that Job and his friends twist and turn.

A modern person intending to read Job should take a deep breath. It is a voluminous book, 42 chapters. Its pace may feel disturbingly slow. The book in itself is a lesson: there are no quick fixes. You might as well take it in from the start; expect no quick fixes.

The book of Job is fascinating—if you take the time. It contributes to the Bible in a unique way by illuminating topics you will not find anywhere else.

Job himself was like us. He wanted a response from God—instantly. But let us start from the beginning.

About the Book of Job

The book of Job may well be the oldest part of the Bible. It says nothing about the people of Israel or about a temple in Jerusalem. Job was a priest to his own household. These are some of the reasons that make researchers believe Job may have been contemporary with the patriarchs, perhaps at the time of Abraham some 4000 years ago.

Linguists say that the language of Job is archaic Hebrew.

The New Testament mentions Job in one single place, James 5:11, as an example of endurance in suffering.

Job Himself

Job was a prominent man with a large family and household. His extensive and well-run family business (livestock farming) had made him a wealthy person. He mixed effortlessly with the ruling class of his society, where he was welcome and an obvious candidate.

There was something special with Job. He was conscientious, respectable, honest, nice, and keen to contribute to his society. It was Job’s way of cultivating his relationship with God. He wanted nothing to come in its way. That is why he was anxious to be an excellent husband and father, a commendable business leader, and a praiseworthy citizen. He did not disregard anybody and did not turn away from those in need. On the contrary, poor guests were always found in his house.

Calamity

One day: Pow! A series of disasters took everything from Job.

• Armed rebels ransacked his business after killing the staff.
• Lightning terminated one of his subsidiaries.
• Another company of armed rebels took over yet another subsidiary by force.
• Worst of all: All his children perished while having a party when a storm tore down the house over them.

As if that was not enough:

• Job lost his health and was struck by a painful sickness.

(He does not look too bad in the picture above.)

All of a sudden, Job was a man without influence. His reputation and his position were completely gone. He was a wretch that people frowned upon.

The Friends

Three friends of Job’s came to comfort him in his affliction. (A fourth one appears later, in chapter 32.) When they see him and just barely recognise him, they realise the extent of what happened to him. They are speechless. For an entire week they just sit there silently.

An entire week! That says something about the pace of this book.

Finally, they start talking, one at a time. Job begins.

Arguing In Style

Job and his friends enter into a lengthy and often heated argument.

The way they speak is amazing. The style of their discussion qualifies as literary and outstanding. They present their pleas with artful imagery and poetry. Using the most exquisite articulations, they flog each other.

Their way of having a discussion seems unreal when compared to many debates in our time. Is it possible that people argued this way 4000 years ago? Was the world more civilised back then?

They naturally hear each other out. Elihu, the guy who appears in chapter 32, is indignant but refrains from interrupting the others because they are older. He awaits his turn.

I get the impression we have become less civilised.

Job’s Opening Speech

Job opens the discussion by regretting he was born. Regretting? He actually curses the day he was born one hundred percent, and wishes the sun had never risen on it. He does it in style, of course, which adds a peculiar emphasis to his complaint.

It is impossible to avoid being touched by his pain.

What is the discussion about?

Job says repeatedly that God is unjust. Job had been so careful to be honest and noble towards each and every one, even when no one else watched. Why would he have to suffer this terrible affliction? Why, why?

Job wants to argue his point with God to hear what God’s accusation is, but God does not respond. Job is not aware of any wrongdoing. He has treated all his fellow human beings in an honourable way. He challenges God to stop hiding and staying at distance, but he notices no response.

Job’s friends soon begin to air certain misgivings. On the surface of it, Job has certainly appeared above reproach, but what if we probe more than skin deep? Some secret depravity, perhaps?

The friends are confident. Only evil people are punished by God in this blunt way. Good things happen to good people; everyone knows that. It has always been like that.

The friends get increasingly insistent. They want Job to get it out, to confess what he has done, whatever it may be that incurred God’s disapproval. In their opinion, this is a clear case. God only treats evil people this way—which Job challenges.

Without losing style, the argument gets more and more tense. Job gets tired of his friends and tells them they are lousy comforters. The friends, on the other hand, are provoked by Job when they see that he does not change his mind but ignores their advice.

The conflict drains their friendship.

The Lord Responds

The lengthy monologues keep going on chapter after chapter. The friends thrash Job verbally. Job complains now about his friends, now about God.

Suddenly there is a breakthrough. God speaks clearly to Job—but not the way he had expected.

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Job 38:2-4

For almost two chapters, God describes how he created the earth and animal life. He challenges Job to keep track of the stars, the climate of the earth, and to feed all the wild animals. He ends this way:

Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.
Job 40:2 (chapter boundary may differ between versions)

He who argues with God is no one but Job. At this point he caves in.

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Job 40:3-5

Job falls silent, but God goes on. He seems to have a hard time restraining himself. God challenges Job again to administer justice on earth, and goes on to describe two impressive animals that are unknown to us. They are called Behemoth and Leviathan. God speaks for another two chapters. This leaves Job gasping.

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:1-6

The Outcome

God now sternly addresses Eliphaz, probably because he is the oldest among the friends.

After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
Job 42:7-8

So, it was not true, after all, what the friends had been nagging about all the time, that bad things come from bad behaviour. Whatever the friends had said had to be erased and cancelled as completely as possible. In this age the method was animal sacrifice to God.

A quick look at the New Testament testifies to something similar.

As he passed by, [Jesus] saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
John 9:1-3

Amazingly, God even defends Job, stating that he had spoken truthfully about God. There is not even a trace of annoyance towards Job. It seems God and Job are fully on terms again. The life of Job is recovered and restored.

Spiritual Reality

Now we turn to a particular perspective on what happened to Job. It is found in the first two chapters of the book of Job. We follow how Satan (which means Accuser) comes before the Lord God, asking for permission to punch Job. He gets permission, with certain limitations, and gets to work. The result manifests itself in the afflictions that tormented Job.

Two lessons may be learnt from this. Firstly, there is a personal evil, Satan, who continuously accuses and strives to hurt people. Converted criminals attest about their previous life that they had a hard time believing in a good God, but no problem believing in Satan. Secondly, God sets limits to Satan’s influence.

There is a reason why the most traditional of all prayers contains the phrase deliver us from evil. It may mean just from evil but also from the evil one.

Summary

The book of Job offers us an unusual glimpse into a spiritual reality. God is also quoted, for almost four chapters, answering Job and his accusations of him being indifferent and unjust.

Job was the most honest person you could imagine. He did the right thing all the time. It seems to have developed into an obsession. Job was very careful that riches would not make him proud or callous. We do not know him that well, but maybe being so honest actually turned into pride. Maybe he imagined that his honesty and integrity would lift him closer to God.

What Job actually gets is a thorough scolding by God. Who do you think you are? God does not disapprove of honesty and integrity, but he opposes the idea that good deeds would bring anyone closer to him. No, you cannot work yourself closer to God. Job learns his lesson, and his life is restored. He lets God be God.

His friends end up having real problems. They had stubbornly claimed that God punishes the evil and rewards the good. If you run into misfortune, it is because you did something bad, and it is reflected back on you, like karma. God rejects that idea totally. He calls on Job to pray for his friends, which he does.

God asks Job to pray for his friends; isn’t that astonishing? I think God did so to help restore this little company, including the relationships between Job and his friends, which had taken a blow.

The turning point for Job was meeting God. Before that, he had only heard about him. To meet God himself made a total difference. His complaints dissolved into thin air.

God approves of people doing good for each other, of course. Job learnt something important the hard way: to claim one’s own worthiness before God does not work out.

Naturally, there is a lot more to be said about the book of Job. This is just a short introduction.