Job

[Rob Morgan]

JOB: Keyword - Sovereignty

Job is perhaps the earliest book of the Bible. Set in the period of the
patriarchs (Abraham, lsaac, Jacob, and Joseph), it tells the story of a man who Lose everything - his wealth, his family, his health and wrestles with the question, why?
A number of facts indicate a patriarchal date for Job, perhaps between Genesis 11 and l2 or not long after the time of Abraham: (1) Job lived 140 years After the events in the book (42:16) his lifespan must have been close to 200 years. This fits the patriarchal period (Abraham lived 175 years, Gen. 25:7)- (2) job's wealth is measured in terms of livestock (1 :3; 42:12) rather than gold and silver. (3) Like Abraham, lsaac, and Jacob, Job is the priest of his family and offers sacrifices. (4)There are no references to lsrael, the Exodus, the Mosaic Law, or the tabernacle. Job reveals five ways in which God uses hardships that are reflected in Deuteronomy 8: (1) To humble us (22:29; Deut. 8:2); (2) to test us (2:3; Deut' 8:2); (3) to rearrange our priorities (42.54; Deut. 8:3); (4) to discipline us (5:17; Deut. 8:5 ); and (5) to prepare us for future blessings (42:10; Deut. 8:7).

The Book of Job concerns the transforming crisis in the life of a great man who lived perhaps four thousand years ago. Job loses everything he has - wealth, family, and health - in a sudden series of catastrophes that force him to wrestle with the question, Why? The book begins with a heavenly debate between God and Satan, moves into an earthly debate between Job and His friends, and closes with a series of divine questions. Job's trust in God (1-2) changes to complaining and growing self righteousness (3-31: cf. 32:1; 40:8), but his repentance (42:1-6) leads to his restoration (42:I-17). The trials bring about an important transformation. The man after the process is different from the man before the process.

The Book of Job divides into three parts: (1) The dilemma of Job (1-2); (2) the debates of Job (3-37); and (3) the deliverance of Job (3842). The Dilemma of Job (1-2): Job is not a logical candidate for disaster (1 :1 , 8). His moral integrity and his selfless service to God heighten the dilemma. Behind the scene, Satan (“accuser'') charges that no one loves God from pure motives, but only for material blessings (1:1O). To refute Satan's accusations, God allows him to strike Job with two series of assaults. ln his sorrow Job laments the day of his birth but does not deny God (1:21; 2:10)' The Debates of Job (3-37): Although Job's "comforters" reach wrong conclusions, they are his friends: of all who know Job, they are the only ones who come; they mourn with him in seven days of silent sympathy; and they confront Job without talking behind his back. However, after Job breaks the silence, a three round debate follows in which his
friends say Job must be suffering because of his sin. Job's responses to their simplistic assumptions make the debate cycles increase in emotional fervor.

He first accuses his friends of judging him, and later appeals to the Lord as his judge and refuge. Job makes three basic complaints: (1) God does not hear me (13'.3,24, 19:7; 23:3-5;30:20); (2) God is punishing me (6:4; 7.2O;9:17); and (3) God allows the wicked to prosper (21:7). His defenses are much longer than his friends' accusations; and in the process of defending his innocence, he becomes guilty of self-righteousness. After Job's five-chapter closing monologue (27-31), Elihu freshens the air with a more perceptive and accurate view than those offered by Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar (32-37) .

He tells Job that he needs to humble himself before God and submit to God's process of purifying his life through trials. The Deliverance of Job (38-42) After Elihu's preparatory discourse, God Himself ends the debate by speaking to Job from the whirlwind. ln His first speech God reveals His power and wisdom as Creator and Preserver of the physical and animal world. Job responds by acknowledging his own ignorance and insignificance; he can offer no rebuttal (40:3-5). ln His second speech God reveals His sovereign authority and challenges Job with two illustrations of His power to control the uncontrollable.

This time Job responds by acknowledging his error with a repentant heart (42:1€). lf Job cannot understand God's ways in the realm of nature, how then can he understand God's ways in the spiritual realm? God makes no reference to Job's personal suffering, and hardly touches' on the real issue of the debate. However, Job catches a glimpse of the divine perspective; and when he acknowledges God's sovereignty over his life, his worldly goods are restored twofold. Job prays for his three friends who have cut him so deeply, but Elihu's speech is never-rebuked. Thus, Satan's challenge becomes God's opportunity to build up Job's life. "lndeed we count them blessed who endured. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is Very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:1 ; see also James 1 : 12).