“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”…“for instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.” - Romans 15:4 NASB, James 5:11 NLT
Even though the book of Job is placed almost in the middle of the Bible, right before the Psalms, the story actually takes place right around the same time as Abraham’s grandson Jacob. It’s early in history. It’s early in the work of God among people. God is trying to get something foundational across right from the start.
The Bible isn’t a step by step set of instructions like those that come with buying a new bike or a grill; do this first, then this, then that, and so on. It’s a story. A story of a Creator who gave us everything of Himself, including a choice. A story of people, people that have found themselves without their Creator and longing for that relationship again. A story of what happens when foreign agents like sin and rebellion enter paradise. A story of deceit and injustice. A story of brokenness. A story of redemption and forgiveness. Read it. Listen to the heart of the people – both rebellious and good-hearted people. See the heart of God constantly showing up and giving grace and mercy, discipline and direction with tenderness and kindness and righteousness. It’s all in there.
The book of Job is about patience, trust, suffering, endurance, faithfulness, justice, friendship, hope, influence, and truth. And that’s just describing God’s role in the book. The people in the book, as well as Job himself, although they observe and learn these things from God actually example things like self-realization, self-justification, self-control, doubt, pride, confusion, false conclusions, passing the buck, finger-pointing, and ultimately helplessness.
One of the most intrinsic and human of comments in the whole story is from Job himself. He realizes that he can do nothing to control his situation and wonders if there is life after this crisis of pain and loneliness. He’s imagining what that could possibly look like. He says to God, “You would call and I would answer, and You would yearn for me, Your handiwork…instead of watching for my sins…You would cover my guilt.” - Job 14:15-17
I can't get to You, You have to come to me. I know I am Yours but I can't fix my sin; but I do know that You can.
This story is a microcosm of the story of God interacting with humanity itself.
God isn’t being mean to Job. God isn’t using Job to prove some narcissistic notion of ego or supremacy. God is unfolding His ultimate wisdom and preference that He is for us and not against us. Job is our example. Job is our school of hard knocks. Job is who God saw as close enough to Him to use him to show all of humanity that He is faithful. That life can be hard. That we can learn from pain and suffering. That God sees injustice. That our friends don’t always tell us the truth. And that ultimately faith is rewarding.
Bill Cosby, in the old Fat Albert cartoon series, used to begin each show by doing a narrative that would set up the plot. The gang was always going to get into trouble involving some misunderstanding or a choice and then learn from their mistakes. He would always end his monologue with, “…And if you’re not careful, you may learn something!”
I think this is applicable to the story of Job too.
I wonder if Job ever had an inkling of how many people throughout history would read his story, his person struggle and revelations and take inspiration from it. I don't think we can read Job and not learn something, something that will stretch us beyond what we think we already know :)
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many of us who would be willing to let our deepest hurts and pain and inabilities be opened and laid out for all of history to see. I believe God really KNEW Job and Job really KNEW God and that's how they rolled...for us all to learn how God likes to work. He's proud of us, He's patient with us, He's understanding of our weaknesses, He's able to sustain us, to reward us, to inform us, and to heal us from the inside out.
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