The Book of Job, Us Today, My Reflections

I have tried to put myself in Job’s position of losing his fortune and his children. That alone would be enough to make any person bitter, angry and hard-hearted toward God. Job received the ultimate test, especially with his friends blaming him, a righteous man, and his wife telling him to curse God. I honestly believe the test that Job was put through would be more then I could handle. Losing my possessions and being unhealthy, I maybe able to keep my faith, however losing my children the way Job did would require much ministering from someone better equipped then Job’s three so called friends. I also struggle with God in this story that he would play a game with Satan just to prove Jobs righteousness. Satan is termed as an opponent or adversary or one who opposes in Hebrew. This may explain why the story was designed the way it was. I think Job is a great model for all of us who will suffer disappointments, tragedy, sickness, suffering and death. The adversary or opponent is the one who inflicted the hard times, not God. God knew Job would be just, righteous, and fear the Lord.

I am surprised that even today many people believe that hard-times come to sinners. We are all sinners, we are all gifted in some fashion or another, and we will all be tested in some small or large way like Job was in this reading. I know God is the supreme judge and may afflict without cause, however that seems to be the mystery we do not have the answer for. Usually something good comes from our cross that we carry.

When my brother died fourteen years ago at the age of 56, I was very angry that I did not have the time needed to see him off. Although my mother suffered with pain at her death bed I felt at peace knowing that she understood the world of pain and did not blame God for her discomfort. She had the righteousness and patience needed to be a Job. My brother also handled his idea of death coming in his direction like a Job would. God gives us the strength we need to handle our crosses in life. He strengthened my faith when these two losses in my life came along, by putting me on a faith journey I never dreamed possible.

Job hints a few times in this story about afterlife which was not talked about much in those days. I can see where the wisdom books offer much insight for our daily ups and downs. God knows we just cannot understand the mystery of life, death and tragedy. I have learned from the Book of Job, a better understanding of the marvelous power that God has over tragedy and suffering if we keep our faith in Him. Although Job was God fearing and morally perfect, he still cannot challenge God. The moral of the story is Job recovered and also realized that he is the creature and God is the creator. I need to make the best use of this wisdom myself, for the future crosses in my life. What do you think?