Who or what is the book of Job about? Many of us would say the book is the story of Job and about the problem of suffering. When in the past I read Job as the Bible’s discussion of why bad things happen to good people, I found it a frustrating book. While the question of suffering is discussed for chapter after chapter, the question of why people suffer isn’t ever answered- even when God shows up and speaks to Job. God doesn’t answer Job’s and my question. This makes the book a frustrating read.
But what if we ask a different question? What if we, assuming God is the main character in this story, ask what does this story tell us about God? What do you think?
Careful. I didn’t ask what does this story tell us about God’s relationship to and involvement with suffering. I asked what does this story tell us about God? What does this story tell us about God’s relationship with us?
Here are some initial thoughts;
- God isn’t reducible to doctrines and explanations.
- God is intimately involved in the complexities of the world.
- Somehow, God is involved in the world’s suffering.
- God doesn’t mind if we challenge God and ask tough questions, even demanding a hearing.
- God is present with us and listens and responds to us, but doesn’t necessarily give us answers.
What would you add to this list?
As I re read Job this week, I was struck by how theologically at home Job’s friends would be in 2012.
Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up: Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it’s hard to keep quiet… Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap? Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end? It’s my observation that those who plow evil and sow trouble reap evil and trouble. One breath from God and they fall apart, one blast of his anger and there’s nothing left of them.” Job 4:1,7-9, The Message
Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak: How can you keep on talking like this? You’re talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that. Does God mess up? Does God Almighty ever get things backwards? It’s plain that your children sinned against him- otherwise, why would God have punished them? Here’s what you must do- and don’t put it off any longer: Get down on your knees before God Almighty. If you’re as innocent and upright as you say, it’s not too late- he”ll come running; he’ll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes. Job 8:1-7 The Message
Give in to God, come to terms with him and everything will turn out just fine. Let him tell you what to do; take his words to heart. Come back to God Almighty and he’ll rebuild your life. Clean house of everything evil. Relax your grip on your money and abandon your gold-plated luxury.God Almighty will be your treasure, more wealth than you can imagine. You’ll take delight in God, the Mighty One, and look to him joyfully, boldly. You’ll pray to him and he’ll listen; he’ll help your do what you’ve promised. You’ll decide what you want and it will happen; you life will be bathed in light. Yo those who feel low you’ll say,’Chin up! Be brave!’ and God will save them. Yes, even the guilty will escape, escape through God’s grace in your life. Job 22: 21-30 The Message
That God punishes bad people and reward good people is an ancient and powerful concept. It is one we hold onto in spite of evidence to the contrary. It’s an understandable idea. Cause and effect. It appeals to our sense of order and justice. It is how we would do things if we were in charge.
Part of the message of Job is that this is not how God does things. Frustratingly, Job doesn’t tell us how God does things, it doesn’t tell us exactly how God is involved in suffering. However, what ever that involvement is, it isn’t simple cause and effect.
What we do know is that God present and involved- even if we don’t know how or why.
I’d like to know, what do you think?
Conversation in Faith Weblog 
Great post. I’ve always thought Job an interesting subject and book. Asking what the Bible tells us about God is the key approach (in my opinion). And those answers are usually different than when we direct them toward ourselves and our experiences. I totally agree with your notion of God wanting and welcoming questions. I can’t speak for others but I was raised in the Mennonite denomination and questioning God was forbidden and strongly discouraged. It was thought to be questioning authority which church leadership didn’t want to get involved in. Perhaps they were afraid their authority would be questioned. It wasn’t until later that I realized that God wants and welcomes questions. Job is just one of those passages that revealed that too me. How else could verses like “ask…seek….knock” (Matt 7:7,8) be understood? Not to mention when in I John4:1, “…do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits (God/Holy Spirit must be included here) whether they are from God. Why? God always reveals himself to those who seek him. Questions are a necessary ingredient to building a relationship. A while ago I wrote on my blog that one of the reasons I love Atheists is that, in their unbelief and doubt, they continue to ask the hard questions. I wonder if God actually hungers after our questions, doubts and fears so that through them he may be for us those things we cannot be for ourselves. I think that’s one of the things that makes the story of Job so remarkable. Job is the example of questioning, doubt, searching, yes and complaining and God welcomes him (even rewards him in the end). I found it interesting that at the end when God finally speaks (chapter 38) – HE is responding to Jobs friends [You know, those 3 guys, well-intentioned, and well-meaning, advising Job to basically “suck it up – it’s your fault”]. And what does God say to that type of attitude? “Who is this that darkens my counsel” It’s not until chapter 40 that God address Job individually. Pretty amazing.
Keep the great posts coming. Have a great weekend.
Once I read Job for what it says about God and not to get answers to my questions, I liked the book much better. I told someone a couple of weeks ago that I often get along better with atheists than other Christians. I think you may have explained why! I think there is plenty of Biblical evidence that God “likes” hard questions. Moses in particular didn’t shy away from tough questions. Honest conversation is crucial for any relationship, including our relationship with God. Thanks for reading and for your comments. I appreciate it!