(Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles by Dr. Theodore Kalivoda on shortcomings of Bible characters. The article is written for exclusive use on the Grace Community Chapel website.)
Job underwent horrible suffering, an experience he endured with only occasional wavering. We sympathize with him because of the anguish he had to undergo.
The account reveals an interesting conversation between Job and God. But in the end God asks a series of sobering questions:
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone - while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt?'" (Job 38:4-11)
God used that questioning technique to remind Job of His greatness. He even employed a bit of gentle sarcasm to bring him to his senses. Job is ultimately overwhelmed, and responds, "I am unworthy - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth" (Job 40:4).
Job's blunder in questioning God about suffering was a very human one. But it was still a miscue. In his weakness he wavered in trust. How often do we do that? We experience hardships, even the premature death of loved ones. Our favorite question is, Why? At other times we ourselves fall to sickness and disease and/or other unwelcome situations with jobs, finances, broken marriages, wayward children, and more. Our first inclination is to attack God, or to feel let down. We wonder if our trust in him is warranted.
Job didn't go to that extreme, but he did question God, who gently answered to bring him to his senses. Job's blunder is for our learning. As long as we are in this earthly body we will undergo unpleasant experiences. It's a carry over from Adam's rebellion and its subsequent effect on us. What a splendid attitude Job shares with us when he ultimately responded to God, "How can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth" (40:4). He was declaring God's greatness compared to his own insignificance - a position of appropriate humility to assume before the Almighty.
Now a word about Job's wife. She enters the scene by revealing her distress over her husband's suffering. You would think she'd go to great lengths to be supportive. And maybe she did, until she caved in, perhaps out of frustration over the continuing ordeal. Her slanderous remark, "Curse God and die!" (2:9) reminds us of how we may make inappropriate statements when under stress. Thank God for his understanding of our human weakness. He is forgiving.
Let's not ever give up on God, no matter how hard the circumstances! That's the message plunging at us from the experience of Job and his wife.
Ted will be happy to respond to any comments or questions from readers via E-Mail:
