The Suffering Of Job Study

My wife and I were staying a few days at Palo Duro Canyon State Park when I saw this lizard sunning himself on a warm rock after a cool night. I first thought that he had a wounded jaw or a stick protruding out of his month, but when I zoomed in with my camera, I discovered he had a grasshopper in his mouth with just one leg hinging out of his mouth. I am sure, that Job must have felt much like the grasshopper being devoured by the predator when Satan took away his servants, his possessions, his children, and his health. Even his own wife and his three friends turned against him. Job suffered in just about every way possible: material loss, loss of family, loss of health, loss of friendship, and the loss of prestige.

This article is an attempt to keep a balance of truth, recognizing making one truth the exclusion to another truth will make the one truth something of a lie. I had a course on the book of Job when I was in the seminary, but honestly, it was very much out of balance. Often in the circles of "faith ministry" there is a totally different perspective, but that also often out of balance.

What does God's Word say? "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (Job 1:1). He was completely upright. He was did that which was right. He had an awesome respect for God and he turned away from that which was evil. Therefore in the beginning, we can see absolutely no fault in him.

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8). Here we see that God calls Satan's attention to Job, His servant.

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause" (Job 2:3).

"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land" (Job 1:10). This points to the protection of God for the righteous and also points to the sovereignty of God.

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD" (Job 1:12).

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life" (Job 2:6). This points to the limits of Satan's authority.

Job did not sin for the Bible says, "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22).

Job did not even sin after he had lost his possessions and children. "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause" (Job 2:3).

He even rebuked his wife for her suggestion to curse God. "But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 2:10).

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Satan is a thief and will come in unaware if he can without our permission.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:31-32). Note that the word "converted" means to turn back to.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all" (Psalms 34:19). Here is the good news! God is the deliverer!

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:7). Suffering at times may come to us as a trial of our faith.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). The enemy is out to devour us, but the question is, "What do we do when we come under attack?"

"Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?" (Job 4:7). This is one of many such accusations from his three friends. Their concept was Job would never experience suffering if he was righteous. Therefore, Job must have committed some grave sin to suffer so much. On the surface, David in some sense held to this belief. "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalms 37:25). The key word is "forsaken". God does not forsake the righteous. The belief that illness only happen to the unrighteous was still dominate in the day that Jesus lived. This disciples questions Jesus concerning the blind man. "And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?" (John 9:2). However, look at the word of Jesus. "Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:3).

Job's three friends blamed Job for his suffering. Job said, "How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?" (Job 19:2).

When we have a judgmental attitude toward others, we become miserable comforters to them when they are in trouble. "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all" (Job 16:2).

However, look at the words of the good counselor, Elihu. "Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job" (Job 32:3).

A. Initially and in some ways he did quite well.

"But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 2:10).

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him" (Job 13:15). Here we see that he is still acknowledging .God in His rightful position as being God as one who is trustworthy.

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).

B. However, in another way he began to fail the test.

1. We see this when we look at his cursing the day that he was born.

"After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it" (Job 3:1-4). In his suffering, in one sense, he is saying that God goofed in allowing him to be born.

2. We also see a sense of fear in his personal confession.

We initially see that Job had a heart motivated by fear. "And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually" (Job 1:5). He was afraid that his children may have sinned and therefore offered a sacrifice for them.

"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came" (Job 3:25-26). Fear is generally an open door for the enemy to work in our lives. Compare these statements to what David said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Psalms 56:3). "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" (Psalms 23:4).

3. We also see this when he accused God of being unrighteous (unfair).

He blamed God for his suffering. "As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul" (Job 27:2).

Elihu, the good counselor said, "For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression" (Job 34:5-6).

Job also concluded that there was no value in serving God. "For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God" (Job 34:9).

Again look at the words of the good counselor, Elihu. "Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?" (Job 35:1-3).

When David looked at life as being "unfair", thus implying that God was unfair, it was more than he could emotionally handle. "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me" (Psalms 73:16).

"Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God" (Job 32:2). What does this mean? When do we justify ourselves opposed to justifying God? Is it not when we complain that God is unfair?

"Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands" (Job 34:18-19). Is God always righteous?

"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God" (Job 34:34-37). We should remember that Elihu was the only friend that did not get rebuked by God. What was Job's sin? What was his rebellion.?

"Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?" (Job 35:1-3).

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:1-2). (Job 38:1- 41:34). Note that God said that Job had spoken without knowledge. God confronted Job as being the Creator and the Caretaker of all His creation?

A. Job's initial response.

"Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further" (Job 40:5). He said in modern terms, "Oops! I said too much. What more can I say?"

B. A further response of Job.

"Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:1-6). I believe that Job began to understand that God even knew his thoughts and that was where fear had first entered into his life. The major battle of faith is in the mind. His initial experience with God was about hearing about God, but now through this experience he had come to know God. Job therefore repented of his unjustified accusations against God.

C. Job's third response.

"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). This would indicate that Job forgave his critical friends and prayed for them. This is often the key to receiving healing!

"Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD" (Ezekiel 14:14).

God set him free from the bondage of Satan and gave him double what he had before. "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). James wrote that one who endure temptation will be BLESSED by God. "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy" (James 5:11).

A. Sometimes we may open the door, for the devil to bring suffering into our lives.

1. Yes, we as Believers can open the door to the enemy. Jesus warned the lame man whom he had healed about sinning. "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14).

2. We are not to give the enemy legal rights to operate in our lives. "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27).

3. Yes, God will even turn Believers over to the tormentors, especially when they refuse to forgive. "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses" (Matthew 18:34-35).

4. Job's criticism of God brought Elihu's rebuke and also God's rebuke into his life.

B. Our suffering may also simply come as a test of our faith.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you" (I Peter 4:12).

C. How can we know the difference?

1. Through the Word of God. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Even Job said, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).

2. Through prayer. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). Wisdom is seeing from God's perspective.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my (literally disquieting) thoughts: And see if there be any wicked (literally painful) way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalms 139:23-24).

3. Also the rebuke or counsel of others. "Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God" (Job 32:2). "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6). "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).

D. The Believer's suffering is for the Believer's purification and not for his destruction.

Peter says, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:7). Again, Peter says, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (II Peter 2:9).

E. When the testing is complete, we can receive a benefit from our trials.

1. We can benefit from trials. David said, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes' (Psalms 119:71). God gave Job double what he had lost. "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10). God restored Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom to him and even added to it after he repented and turned to God. "At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me" (Daniel 4:36).

2. The END of the testing is not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of others. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ" (II Corinthians 1:3-5).

A. Is God righteous? "Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?" (Job 34:17).

B. Does God tempt anyone to sin? "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed" (James 1:14). Satan is the tempter. "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread" (Matthew 4:3).

C. Is God sovereign? Yes! However, His sovereignty is limited to his righteousness. "Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity" (Job 34:10).

D. Does God always provide a way of escape when we are tempted? "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).

E. Can God work all things together for good for those who are Believers? "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).