New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters by Paul D. Gardner

Author:Paul D. Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins Christian Publishing

JOB

Job is the central character of the book of Job. The book recounts his experiences through the most terrible troubles and sufferings in life. Who he was or when he lived or even when the book was written has been the subject of much debate and no real consensus has emerged. Some have argued that the description of Job as wealthy in terms of his thousands of sheep, camels etc., and his large number of servants might suggest a time in history near the period in which Abraham lived. Others however, put the date much later in the time of King Solomon, during the time of the Exile, or even as late as the 4th century bc.

Job himself is described as a righteous man. He knew the LORD as his God whom he faithfully worshipped and who he knew would eventually be vindicated. He regularly sacrificed for his sins and even showed real spiritual concern for his children, making sacrifices for them in case they might have 'sinned and cursed God in their hearts' (Job 1:4–5). Such was Job's righteousness that he became the subject of discussion and challenge between the LORD and Satan. The LORD described Job as 'blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil' (v. 8). Satan argued that if all Job's blessings were withdrawn he would curse God. The LORD allowed Satan a certain freedom to put this theory to the test.

Satan brought upon Job's house one calamity after another. His sons and daughters were killed when their house fell on them, all their possessions were destroyed or taken by raiders. All that Job had known was taken from him and yet he did not curse God and so Satan attacked Job himself with sores and sickness. In spite of his wife's suggestion that he curse God and die, we read that his response remained that of one whose trust lay in God: 'In all this, Job did not sin in what he said' (Job 2:10).

In such tragedy, the majority of the book of Job then describes the way Job dealt with his life and how he interacted with three friends who sought to comfort him in various ways. (For detail of their different responses to Job's predicament see Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar).

Two aspects of Job's reaction to his situation are seen in detail in the chapters that follow. On the one hand Job defended himself against his friends as 'innocent'. While his friends tended to make the simplistic equation that such calamity must be the judgment of God on Job, Job knew that he had not sinned in a way that deserved this. He knew he had been faithful to the LORD. On the other hand, Job also remonstrated with God about what was happening in his life. He knew that the answers coming from his friends were simplistic and inadequate and yet he could not understand what was happening. His honesty and openness before God provides a most moving example of a righteous man discussing his life and his fears and even his anger with his God.

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