(x)wisdom

The book of Job is the Bible's answer to the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Job, the man from Uz, is said to be blameless and then he's shown to suffer a great deal; loosing his children and wealth on one day and his health and dignity on the next. His friends hear of Job's fait and resolve together to be with Job and comfort him. As the friends approach Job it would seem that they are faced with the reality that the reports of Job's struggles failed to communicate the gravity of Job's situation.

For the first seven days Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar show themselves to be wise men, by sitting with Job and being silent. As they sat listening to Job something seemed to happen to them. It's as if they had heard enough and could no longer briddle their tongues. They believed Job's Theology was deffective and could no longer sit by. They thought they would "help" by correcting Job's Theology but in the process they illustrate the meaning of Proverbs 9:27, "Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools."(ESV)

Unfortunately Job's friends had an overly simplistic Theology; one we need to be on guard against. If we're honest a lot of the things Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar say resonate with us. Their words reveal a works-based mentality and a partial view of God that does not seem to include an appropriate understanding of His sovereignty or motivations. The gist of their argument is that Job must have some unconfessed sin, otherwise these bad things would not be happening to him. In fact, it seems that all of Job's talking proved their hypothesis that Job had a sinful attitude toward God. If he would just repent and live right then everything will turn around for him. However, if Job continues to claim that he's done nothing wrong and that God has done all this just because He can then Job will be adding to his sin.

In his replies to his friends, Job reveals quite a sophisticated understanding of God, his nature, and his motivations; with statements like, "If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity." (Job 10:14 ESV);  "Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high." (Job 16:19 ESV); "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another." (Job 19:25-27 ESV). Job knew that God is in Heaven, that God created him, that God would preserve and protect his spirit, that God can give both "good" things and "bad" things, that he needed an arbitor, that there is one who redeems, that this "redeemer" is alive, that the Redeemer would stand on the earth, that the Redeemer would resurrect Job in order to behold God in person.

It was no problem for Job to imagine that God would give him both good and bad things in his life. The author of Job goes out of his way to prove this point in chapter 2; But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10 ESV) This is a hard truth that leads quickly to discussions about the nature of God and whether He causes calamity and pain. For Job this was pretty clear.

So we are still left asking the question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" If Job was in fact blameless, then why did all this calamity befall him? What was the point? The simplest answer to the question is because God is sovereign. However, to arrive at a more complete answer it's important to understand the context for Job's story. After establishing Job's blamelessness and his emminence in the land the book brings us to a scene in Heaven where the great accuser of men calls God out. Satan's case is that it's easy for Job to profess faith in God's redemption and steadfast love because everything is going good for Job. Satan's hypothesis is that if God gave him permission to turn the tables and Job were to loose everything then Job would certainly loose his faith in God's redemption. Basically, Satan was challenging Job's eternal security; God's ability to preserve Job's faith through the worst possible events. God's power was being questioned and He took the opportunity to demostrate His great power AND kindness so that generations to come would be able to undertstand that God is all about his own glory AND our good.

In chapter 31 we see clearly that Job's hope was never in wealth or good works, but in God to save him. In fact, the appeals of Job's friends fail to convict him. But Job's response to God is submission, not fight; proof that the attacks of Satan have failed. Job is ultimately vindicated. His health and family are restored as is his wealth and reputation.

In the end God displays his great mercy and steadfast love by offering a way for Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to be forgiven for their sinful words. Instead of destroying them God takes one more opportunity to display his great mercy on those who will submit to Him; again displaying his great love by preferring to save rather than destroy.

Of course all this raises another question, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" But if you were paying attention here you'll already know the answer.