Topic(s): Pain & Suffering, Encouragement

Bob Prichard

Victor Hugo said, “Tomorrow, if all literature was to be destroyed, and it was left to me to retain one work only, I should save Job.” Job is valuable for its literary message, but even more so for the way it deals with the great themes of life, including the problem of suffering. Job describes the struggles of a righteous man who suffered tremendous pain.

Job's “friends” afflicted him and criticized him as they blindly believed all suffering is a result of sin. Paul wrote, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). This must ultimately be true, but it does not always apply to the problem of suffering, especially in the short run. Job suffered unmercifully, not because of his sin, but because he was a righteous man. The Lord said to Satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” Satan answered, “Doth Job fear God for nought?” Satan contended that Job was only faithful because God blessed and protected him. “Touch all he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face” (Job 1:8-11). From that point on, Satan did all he could to afflict Job and cause him to lose his integrity. Every trial that Satan sent upon Job was designed for maximum pain.

As Job struggled, he begged God for an opportunity to plead his case. As he tried to work through his problems, Job ultimately came to understand that because God is a just and loving God, then he must some day have someone who would plead his case before God. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:26). He expressed the universal longing for a Savior, which was fulfilled in Christ.

Job did not understand that his afflictions came from Satan, so he was in a constant struggle for understanding. He wanted to know, “Why me?” The answer to human suffering cannot be tied up in a nice, neat package. Righteous Job suffered because Satan afflicted him. But why did God allow it? The atheist says that if God is all loving, and all powerful, then He would stop all suffering. God is all loving, and all powerful, but suffering continues. The righteous suffer today for many reasons—because of the strength that comes from testing and trials, because of the consequences of sin, because of natural law (God does not suspend the law of gravity for the Christian), and because of the sinful choices of others. But sometimes we just do not know why. Even Job, unless he is the author of his own story (the book does not denote its author), was never allowed to understand why.

Job demonstrates, however, that God is worthy of love and reverence even apart from all the blessings He gives us. He knows us and knows what is best for us, even when we do not know and understand. We must trust him because of those things we do understand, such as His love that would send that redeemer Job longed for, Jesus Christ.