JOB:SOME LESSONS

                                               ONINEXPLICABLE SUFFERING

Robert C. Newman

 

Introduction

 

            Mostof us have encountered suffering we couldn't understand

                        e.g.,loved one goes thru painful illness before dying

                        promisingyoung person cut off in prime of life

            Bookof Job very helpful in understanding some of the most difficult of such cases

 

Sketch of Job:

 

            Jobmost righteous person on earth in his day

                        (andno reason to suppose our day much better)

                        alsowealthy, with happy family

            Satanclaims that Job's righteousness understandable             sincehe is paid well to be good

                        Takeaway Job's wealth & Job will curse God to his face

            Godpermits a test to see whether or not this is so:

            1stTest (chapter one)

                        Satantakes away Job's (1) wealth and (2) children timing arrival of messengers to buildimpact.

                        Jobdoesn't curse God

            2ndTest (chapter two)

                        Satannot about to admit he was wrong, so raises stakes by claiming Job will curseGodif he loses his health.

                        NowSatan takes about Job's (3) health and (4) support of wife.

                        StillJob doesn't curse God.

            Restof Book:

                        Whyall these chapters 3-42?

                        Wouldn'tmessage be clearer with just chapter or two on Job's friends, then another oninterview with God?

                        Lookslike God continues test to take away things Satan left (not sure what partSatan plays in this, since he took away others things in first two tests):

                                    (5)support of friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar)

                                    (6)support of being right (Elihu)

                                    (7)support of God (who comes w/ accusations)

                        Butlo and behold, when God appears face-to-face, Job does not curse him, but comesto see own sin, and repents (if we find it hard to imagine doing this, it showswe are not in Job's league!).

                        ThenGod commends Job (tho he said bad things re/ God) as better than his friends(who tried to defend God).

                                    Jobremained (relatively) faithful under far more serious provocation than they did.

                       

                        Finally(ruining story for many liberal commentators) God gives Job double what he lost.

 

Some Lessons from Job:

 

1. The Two Worlds:

 

            Thereader has a great advantage over Job & friends.  We see (in story) what is happening in unseen world.

 

            Job'sfriends don't:

                        Todefend God (which they know is right) they wind up falsely accusing Job (sincethey only have            Job'swords as evidence against their "secret sin" theory).

                        Theirtheology (& Satan's !) is closely akin to today's health & wealthgospel.

 

            Jobdoesn't see unseen world either:

                        Heknows God must have allowed it to happen (he is right here [vs. health &wealth gosp], whether or not he knows about Satan).

                        Heknows friends' accusations are false, so their preaching tends to drive him away from God ratherthan to repent.

 

            Wedon't see unseen world in our life or lives of friends:

                        Willwe respond like Job in his worse moments?

                        Orlike Job's friends? 

                        Orwill we cling to God & trust him for vindication in the long run (in histime)?

 

            Muchapparently inexplicable suffering may really be persecution by Satan from theunseen world.

 

2. Job's Response:

 

            ThoSatan claimed Job served God for what he got out of it, Job (et al) came to seethat Job served God for who God is.

            Godis worthy of our worship whether or not we get anything for it (recall Moses'and Paul's willingness to be condemned rather than fellow Israelites bedestroyed and God's promise seem to fail.

            Weshould be able to understand this. DonŐt we sometime appreciate an artist, musician, basketball player fortheir skill, even if it doesnŐt benefit us directly?

            Dowe serve God for who he is?  Or forwhat we get out of it?

 

3. Satan's Response:

 

            Satanclears out before end; he is defeated but not willing to admit it!

            Notuntil real end, when every tongue will confess... will he admit it.

            Sodon't expect vindication in this life.  You may get it, you may not.

 

4. God's Response:

 

            Itis important that Job not know what is happening or this won't be the right kindof test (endurance vs. trust).

            Godcannot intervene to bail out Job until test is over, or test will be invalidated.

            InsteadGod goes beyond Satan's charges to take away everything.

            OnceJob has seen God, admitted God's charges, worshiped him, test is over; God praises Job,humbles friends.

            Godgives Job double (2x wealth, same number more children).

            Job'sother "friends" come back.

            Godis no cheapskate:  though weserve him for nothing, he will not let us go away emptyhanded; but the fullreward cannot come until the test is over.