Financial District: The Book of Job

Does God endorse suffering, according to the Bible?

If he does, then how can he be good?

If he does not, then the existence of suffering is evidence that something is overpowering him, and how can he be the real God?

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The book of Job belongs to a series of writings in the Bible—along with Proverbs and Ecclesiastes—known as Wisdom Literature, which explore these primary questions.

Proverbs declares that life is good when you trust in the Lord with all your heart. Ecclesiastes proclaims that, despite apparently random sufferings and unresolved injustices, to fear God and keep his commandments is the only way of wisdom. The book of Job is the historical record of a man named Job, who lived according to the truths of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, and yet was called by God to test these truths against his own suffering.

Job first lost his wealth and his family. And, "Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything." (1:22). He then lost his health, and his closest companion became his adversary. And, "Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said" (2:10). Finally, his friends became his accusers, while his God seemed to stand aloof. This indeed pushed Job beyond his breaking point, and in the midst of this terrible, unyielding, and worsening storm, Job began to be "righteous in his own eyes" (32:1) and "justified himself rather than God" (32:2). "Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind" (38:1) and at this revelation Job confessed, "I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes." (42:6). Ultimately, "the Lord accepted Job's prayer," (42:9) and "blessed the last part of Job's life more than the first" (42:12).

What does this teach us about God? Why didn't Job abandon his faith? Is Job's faith wise? How can we have Job's faith?

We plan to explore these questions, and yours, according to the Holy Scripture. Come, and...

"See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about — the Lord is compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11, CSB)