The Reason Why Job Suffered?

[W2L]

It's not bitterness. His story is just atypical on the whole.

There aren't many millionaire Christians who would stand for God 100% even when their "hedge" is broken. In that sense on it's own, Job is not a normal example.

He also had 10 kids, and a wife. That isn't atypical, but for a multi-millionaire to have ten kids is somewhat culturally abnormal.

The fact that Job was already righteous, and didnt "sin" against God to get his circumstances is also atypical. This is why his friends were so important in the exchange; "clearly," Job must have some unrepentant sin.

The fact that Job has real friends who are god-fearing as a multimillionaire is on its own.

To keep in perspective, Job had tens of thousands of livestock. A cow sells for around $2500; 12,000 × 2500 = $30,000,000 worth today. We aren't talking about a guy with a nice $450,000 dream house, a couple of kids and a nice portfolio. Job was wealthy. And, Job was God fearing. What did Christ say about a rich man and a camel? Not impossible, just easier to pass through...

Then, we get to Jobs circumstances which are not necessarily atypical, but when you consider the rest it is. People lose their children, spupses and entire families who are already destitute and in crises of faith.

It isn't comforting to hear, "Well, remember Job - (and his millions and blessing's of kids and how he got it all back!) What do the regular people "get back?" Moderate destitution?

The job story wasn't to comfort people; I think it was an intelligence briefing for us and Job. It is curious the chapter just ends the way it does. Nevertheless, it shows us insight on why some suffer.... juse because.

That isn't comfort or hope for a better future. It is just intelligence.

James seems to think Job was a good example of enduring suffering, and gaining Gods merciful generosity in the end.

 

[ewq1938]

But he just said, in Job 2:3, that he did move against Job. I haven't misread it at all.

No, it does not say God moved against Job. I just showed you that he didn't.

 

[ewq1938]

Wasn't it Jobs friends who said Job was under Gods wrath?

I don't know if they said it but Job was sure thought it.

 

[W2L]

I don't know if they said it but Job was sure thought it.

I thought one of Jobs friends accused Job of sin, and implied that Jobs sin is why he was being punished by God.

 

[ewq1938]

I thought one of Jobs friends accused Job of sin, and implied that Jobs sin is why he was being punished by God.

Very possible but I think it's more important that Job felt that God was against him for no reason.

 

[mark kennedy]

Whether or not the story of Job is literal or not... it is the inspired Word of the Bible. It's a story that Jesus studied like all those in the Old Testament. Just remember that we all must keep focused through all agreements to disagree that everything points to Jesus on the Cross. All I know is Jesus... and Him crucified...

Interesting you should mention that, the crucifiction I mean. It didn't make sense to me for a long time that Adam's sin resulted in Christ's death and this is nessacary for my rightiousness. I got the justification by grace thru faith, God is the only source of righteuosness so it has to be by grace. What left me puzzled a tortuous lingering nine hours that secures our pardon and guarantees our righteousness. This all before I'm born.

Job helps to bring clarity, there is a reason.

 

[W2L]

I was just reading chapter 6 and Job is wishing for his death. The apostles despaired of life, but its not because they sinned, it was so they could know the power of God.

Look at Job, his strength is gone. The apostle Paul learned that he was strong when he was weak, because Gods strength was made perfect in his weakness.


Job 6:8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,

9 that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut off my life!

10 Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?

12 Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?

13 Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?


2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,[a] about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.


Philippians 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

 

[W2L]

Very possible but I think it's more important that Job felt that God was against him for no reason.

Job did feel that way. However that doesn't mean Job was a sinner. I wonder if we lost everything like Job did, and then get sick as well, how would we react? We cant say unless we have been there. Job suffered a lot. The man was utterly devastated

 

[ewq1938]

Job did feel that way. However that doesn't mean Job was a sinner.

He was sinner for sure. We all are.

 

[W2L]

He was sinner for sure. We all are.

Surely, but Job made amends for sin. He was probably more righteous than any of us. Job knew that any sin he committed couldn't have reaped the devastation that he reaped. The apostles were heavily burdened with suffering as well. It was a blessing not a curse.

 

[ewq1938]

Surely, but Job made amends for sin.

So do we. The point is, Job fairly quickly considered God a mean and unjust enemy and cursed him for many chapters before God chewed him out and he repented.

 

[W2L]

So do we. The point is, Job fairly quickly considered God a mean and unjust enemy and cursed him for many chapters before God chewed him out and he repented.

And we are like Jobs friends, who unjustly accuse him. James says we should use Job as an example of enduring suffering patiently. You however say hes not a good example of patience.

 

[W2L]

In the end Jobs friends gave him money. I wonder why they didn't do that in the first place, instead if judging and preaching at him? It took Gods rebuke of them to open their ears.

 

[Achilles6129]

No, it does not say God moved against Job. I just showed you that he didn't.

OK, then you're simply denying what God said in Job 2:3.

 

[ewq1938]

And we are like Jobs friends, who unjustly accuse him.

No one has wrongly accused Job. He sinned and repented of it. It is not wrong to say what happened.

James says we should use Job as an example of enduring suffering patiently. You however say hes not a good example of patience.

His patience was great for awhile. It simply didn't last. James never claims he was perfectly patient or was patient through the entire test because he wasn't and didn't.

 

[ewq1938]

OK, then you're simply denying what God said in Job 2:3.

It doesn't say what you claim. God never reached out his hand against Job. Satan wanted that but God didn't do it.

 

[W2L]

OK, then you're simply denying what God said in Job 2:3.

Satan moved against Job and without cause too, according to the scripture you posted

 

[ewq1938]

Satan moved against Job and without cause too, according to the scripture you posted

God permitted that but God refused to move his own hand against Job as Satan wanted.

 

[W2L]

No one has wrongly accused Job. He sinned and repented of it. It is not wrong to say what happened.





His patience was great for awhile. It simply didn't last. James never claims he was perfectly patient or was patient through the entire test because he wasn't and didn't.

His patience were greater than ours I'm assuming. I would rather think with sober judgment here. Not only did Job lose everything, then get ill, but his own wife forsook him and failed to lend support, and then his own friends did the same. I'm not sure I would have handled it as well as Job did.

 

[W2L]

God permitted that but God refused to move his own hand against Job as Satan wanted.

I agree.