Is the book of Job a legend or did the events prescribed in that book really happen? Why would God need to test Job? Why should Almighty God have to prove anything to Satan? Surely God was aware of the response this faithful servant would give! And why should Satan be allowed to torment the people of God for his enjoyment?
Let us break down this question into three parts.
Part 1: Is the book of Job a legend or did the events described in that book
really happen?
I used to believe that it was a legend, until the Lord showed me otherwise.
Let's look at what He showed me:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)
All of the Bible is God's Word. Not just parts of it. Job is part of the Bible,
therefore, Job is God's Word.
Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that he should lie." NIV
If all the Bible is God's Word, nothing in it is based on lies. The one who lies
is from the devil, not of the Lord! John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the
devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from
the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
NIV
The whole narrative of the book of Job is written according to facts, not
according to a fable.
If this book were a fable written by mere men, the message not have been that
sometimes the righteous suffer for unknown reasons, but would have been quite
different. The Jews believed that if you were afflicted it was because of your
sins or the sins of one of your family members. The whole book of Job opposes
this viewpoint. Only God could oppose popular beliefs of that time period.
The prophet Ezekiel, inspired by God's Spirit was able to say with assurance:
Ezek 14:20 "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah,
Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would
save only themselves by their righteousness." NIV Friends, Job was a real person
and his story is real as well, otherwise the Lord, when speaking with Ezekiel,
would never have referred to Job as a real person.
Part 2: Why would God need to test Job, why should Almighty God have to prove
anything to Satan? Surely God was aware of the response this faithful servant
would give!
The whole book of Job points out that we, as mere men, cannot understand why we
confront certain trials in our life. Being one of the oldest books of the Bible,
it is amazing that it contradicts the popular notion of that time that only the
wicked faced tribulations and if a believer was suffering, it must have been
because of his own sins or the sins of his family.
The book of Job gives us a partial view of what's happening in the Heavenly
realms. Here we find out that there is an accuser, named the devil, and there is
a defender, God Himself.
This is confirmed in Rev 12:10-11: "For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses
them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by
the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love
their lives so much as to shrink from death." NIV
Read the last text again and notice how we overcome the accusations of the evil
one:
1. By the blood of the Lamb
Jesus is the One who paid the ultimate price to stop all accusations from the
devil. He still accuses God's children, but they fall to naught when we stand
behind the blood of the Lamb, who paid the price of our salvation.
2. By the word of their testimony
In other words, their personal relationship with Christ lifts them up above any
accusations the devil may hurl at them. Isn't God awesome!
God doesn't have to prove anything. In fact, if you read through notice God's
reply to Job at the end of the book (see Job 38 - 41), you will see that nowhere
is God defending Himself. He doesn't have to!
Now we may wonder if God let the devil bring tribulations to this poor man named
Job. We can only speculate. We can bring forth that a third of God's angels
followed the devil when he rebelled against God and He wanted to show the rest
of the heavenly forces, beyond a doubt, that the devil's accusations were false
and based on self deceit. By giving free reign to the devil, no one would ever
doubt the real his true intentions!
The fact is that we are limited in our understanding, and we do not have the
full picture. 1 Cor 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then
we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as
I am fully known." NIV
Only when we arrive home in heaven, will we be able to fully grasp God's part in
our life, and boy, will we EVER be amazed! We will be able to say with the
apostle Paul: Phil 3:8 "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to
the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have
lost all things." NIV
The question should not be: "Why was Job tested?" But "What aren't some of the
reasons why Job went though trials". The most evident of them all: he didn't
deserve it! This goes right against contemporary popular belief! (see John 9:1-5
for example).
Another good question would be: "What was the outcome of Job's trials?" We can
see that Job ended up having a closer relationship with His maker, as well as
with his family members (where were they when he was suffering?) Now Job could
say: Job 42:3, 5 "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too
wonderful for me to know... My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen
you." NIV His relationship with His Maker was closer than ever!
The Bible gives us glimpses of some of the results of our suffering:
1 Peter 1:6-7 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you
may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that
your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by
fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed. NIV
James 1:2-5 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many
kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything." NIV
The result is worth all the troubles: we develop a deeper relationship with
Jesus Christ and we start to depend on Him solely. Only when we realize that we
can't make it on our own, will we be able to say with confidence: Rom 8:37-39 7
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of
God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." NIV
Part 3: And why should Satan be allowed to torment the people of God for his
enjoyment?
This question was partially answered above. One other point has to be taken
under consideration however:
Once Adam and Eve, who had full dominionship of our planet (see Gen 1:26), gave
way to the temptation of the devil and started to doubt God's intentions for
them, they forsook their dominionship, handing it over to the devil. They obeyed
the evil one rather than God and thus gave him first place in their life.
This is why the devil could offer the kingdoms of our world to Jesus when he
tempted Him in the desert:
Matt 4:8-9 "The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said,
"if you will bow down and worship me." NIV (His true nature came out here. The
devil loves to be worshipped instead of God!)
Also in John 16:11 the devil is referred to as "the prince of this world". NIV
The devil is free to do as he wishes with us, because this planet is his!
However, God puts a lid over his activities.
The devil's situation has changed radically when Jesus died for our sins and was
resurrected 3 days later: John 16:11 "The prince of this world now stands
condemned." NIV The devil lost his place in this world.
Matt 28:18: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me.'" NIV Jesus is now in charge!
However men have still a choice to make. They have the choice of whether or not
to accept Jesus as Lord and guide of their life. Those who reject His offer are
still in the clutches of the evil one. The day will come, and it will be soon,
when the devil's reign will be fully terminated. Who are we pledging our
allegiance to? The choice is ours.
God loves you, my friend. He is the only One who can set us free! John 8:36 "So
if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." NIV Tribulations will come
and trials will go, but God's love will always remain. These trials can be faced
with confidence. Jesus paid the price for us and if we ride these trials with
Jesus at our lead, they will be faced with inner peace and tranquility.
Jesus said: Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest." NIV I have experienced the power of these words. Whenever I
rely too much on myself, trials swept me over and kept me awake at night.
Whenever I hand over all my troubles to Jesus by word and deeds, I felt inner
peace and was able to sleep at night, knowing that Jesus is in charge.
You can have that confidence as well my friend. Jesus paid the price for it. He
wants to have a personal relationship with you and help you experience victory
in your life. Accept His call at
http://www.answers2prayer.org/saviours_call.html
. You will never regret this decision!
Rob Chaffart
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The book of Job is not a legend.
It really happened.
The book is there for you and I who are still in the faith today for a reference
to those things that may come to us in our walk with the Lord.
STATEMENT OF FACT:
I Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted more than you are
able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be
able to bear it".
It was the devil that tempted Job. God did not tempt him. However, God allowed
it for a purpose. Christianity is not a bed of roses. Jesus said "These things I
have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have
tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world" John 16:33.
But as long as we are in the world, we have been assured of trials and
tribulations. This is because we are in the world but not of the world. You
should also note that we have been told that we should rejoice because Jesus has
overcome for us.
It is erroneous to believe that once we are in Christ, there will not be
problems. Jesus Himself faced several trials and tribulations. He was hungry,
thirsted, humiliated, and suffered many things in the hands of sinful men. In
all of these, He did not sin against God. He overcame for you and I. Without his
death on the cross, there would not be salvation, healings and deliverance.
Jesus also suffered for a good purpose!
CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A BED OF ROSES It is important for us to note that salvation
is not limited only to this world.
We are saved for eternity. Life hereafter.
God is not the author of evils. It is the devil that authors problems for man.
The devil is the god of this world. He is angry because of our confession to
follow the Lord. That is why he is going about like a roaring lion. Remember he
is like a roaring lion. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The devil is
not also happy with us because we have been translated into the Kingdom of God.
The understanding above came to the knowledge of the devil concerning Job. Job
was noted in his own days as a righteous man. He was also a sanctified man of
God. He trained his children and would make intercession for them. God allowed
Satan to tempt him for a purpose: 2 Timothy 2:11-13 "This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall
also reign with Him, If we deny him, he also will deny us, if we are faithless,
he remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself...
God did not leave Job alone in the struggle against the devil. He allowed the
devil to do His worst, yet without Job losing his salvation and eternity with
God.
In your moment of suffering or persecution, remember God.! Do not sin against
the Lord your God. He has not lost control of any matter concerning His
children. Sometime we evaluate some situations as if we had lost. God has the
final say and He is the final arbiter. The Bible says in Deut 29:29 “The secret
things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to
us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of this law”. God
knows the reasons why the devil was allowed to tempt Job.
CHRISTIANITY IN OUR CONTEMPORAY WORLD TODAY
Let us note that when you are in Christ, you have become a new creation. (II Cor.
5:17) If that is the case, you stand to be intimidated by the people around you.
You stand to be hated and rejected. Your rights could be denied you.. This was
the understanding of Paul in II Timothy 3:12 “Yes, and all who desire to live
godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution but evil men and impostors will
grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. If our suffering is just for
a moment and for a purpose, we should rejoiced. Look at the portion of evil men
who do not know God in vs.13. “..going worse and worse”.
SOMETIMES SUFFERING REVEALS THE GLORY OF GOD
God may decide to reveal His glory by allowing the devil to do His worst in the
affairs of men. What we call miracle is the result of a particular suffering
which attracted the attention of God in his infinite mercy. I remember the
suffering of Lazarus. When Lazarus was sick and the attention of Jesus was
sought, the Lord did not respond. Jesus said in John 11:4 “When Jesus heard
that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that
the Son of God may be glorified through it”.
Jesus showed up four days after the death of Lazarus. When he was sick (having
blood and water and breath in him) Jesus was not there. In order to reveal the
glory of God, Jesus was there when he was stinking (dead; bringing forth bad
odor). Let’s hear what Jesus said at the tomb of Lazarus:
John 11:34-45 “And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord,
come and see”. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some
of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have
kept this man from dying?” Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the
tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the
stone”. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time
there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I
not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then
they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus
lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. “And I
know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I
said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these
things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died
came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face was wrapped with a
cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews
who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.”
The above story has, indeed, revealed the glory of God. It has also revealed
that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. No matter what happens to man,
Jesus can reverse the irreversible in the lives of men. If you can believe, you
will see the glory of God. In Bethany many people that saw the miracle of
Lazarus coming out of the grave believed in Jesus. People reading this story
today also are believing. What is that people are reading about your life today?
Is it worthy to mention?
Whatever may be dead in your life, God will rise and bring it alive if you can
trust him. Your marriage will still live again. That sickness will catch the
attention of God and healing will be the result. Call God into your situation
and you shall live.
WHAT IS YOUR INTEGRITY DURING TRIALS?
The wife’s blasphemous words was rebuked by Job himself in Job 2:9-10 “Then his
wife said to him, Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”.
But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we
indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity? In all this Job
did not sin with his lips.
Your disposition during trials determines how much you love your God. Job held
God in high integrity. He did not sin in his moment of trials and suffering. The
psalmist said the if you faint in times of adversity, your strength is small.
Whatever you may be passing through, God is still around. He does not change.
You are passing through this present trials for a purpose. You will not die in
it!
JOB’S TRIALS LED HIM TO HIS HIGHER GROUND
Job 42:10-17 “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends.
Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers,
all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to
him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him
for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a
piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the Lord blessed the latter days of
Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand
camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had
seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the
name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third KerenHappuch. In all the
land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father
gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred
and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So
Job died, old and full of days.”
THE GOSPEL TRUTH ABOUT OUR SALVATION
I Peter 2:21 “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that you should follows His steps” Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”
I Peter 4:1-2 “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm
yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has
ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh
or the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
We are not to live for ourselves but for the glory of God. All of the things
that challenge our marriage, finances, academics, and business are not supposed
to kill or us but to make or strong and alive to God. Jesus passed through the
same way of suffering just like you.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A BASIS FOR YOUR SUFFERING
Philippians 3:8 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”.
If you are suffering, ensure that you are not suffering as a wrong doer. Paul
the Apostle’s basis for suffering is to win Christ at the end of the age. Do not
suffer for the Lord as a criminal. Friend, do you know Jesus as your Lord and
Savior? If you don’t know him, he is calling you today. He said clearly and
loudly to you in Revelation 21:27 “But there shall by no means enter it anything
that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written
in the Lamb’s book of Life.”
Are you born again? Is your name written in the book of life? You need to be
sure. Go through our site and discover more on how you can be born again today.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be willing
to help you.
God bless you as you stand for Jesus in every area of your life.
Rev Debo Adeyemo
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I honestly believe that the moral behind the account of Job (why do bad
things happen to the righteous?) Is more important than its historicity.
Parables are frequently used in Scripture to teach truths.
However, I don't believe there is any good reason to doubt Job's existence or
the events that happened in his life. James 1:12-14 "Blessed is the man who
perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the
crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no
one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor
does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he
is dragged away and enticed."
In Job's case, it wasn't so much a matter of God testing him as God allowing the
devil to tempt him. The devil is a powerful enemy who originally aspired to be
equal to God, which lead to his fall from grace. While his power is limited in
comparison to God's majesty, this doesn't stop him from trying to turn as many
as possible away from Him.
Job is any example of a person who questioned why he was being tested, but did
not ultimately turn away from God. Unfortunately, many do and this is the most
powerful weapon Satan has at his disposal. Despite the fact that the devil is
permitted to tempt us, we have good news: The devil and his fallen angels will
be defeated once and for all at Christ's Second Coming.
AJ
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God's reputation was on the line. It was an extreme test of faith. Satan had said that people like Job only love God because of the good things he provides. God wanted to show Satan that people have faith and remain faithful even through major trials and troubles.
Job's life is an example to everyone who must go through great suffering. He showed hope and faith in the midst of the worse kind of troubles. He showed that no matter how terrible things are, we must not let Satan win and take our hope and faith from us. Satan wins against the Lord when this happens.
Job shows that not just bad people suffer. Good people suffer as well. We suffer because of Satan, not God. We choose our paths and when we choose wrong, or against the way of the Lord, we are being led by Satan. In Chapters 1 and 2 in the book of Job, it shows that God did not cause Job's problems. He allowed them, but Satan actually caused the pain.
God proves His mighty power against Satan in the book of Job. God asks for faith from us no matter what. Like Job, we must continue to trust and have faith in the Lord's goodness and wisdom in the midst of the most terrible things in our lives. We must submit to any pain we may have in our lives, even if we don't understand it. Praise God in the midst of suffering, as He has shown too much of His wisdom and perfection, for anyone to doubt Him.
God can use suffering to improve a person, if received in the right spirit.
We must try to comprehend that no matter how hard we try, we cannot in any way
understand how the Lord runs this world. Only HE knows the answers to the
why's!!!!
DeeDee
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Hello to you, thank you for the stirring of our minds to get us thinking on the teachings of The Word.
I myself have discovered that quite often when questions are asked about any fact or incident in the Bible there can be many answers from many people depending on their relationship with God and their time in the Bible.
The Book Of Job, oh how I have loved this book, it has given me such strength during times of tribulation. This one book has taught me that we are not always responsible for what we are going through, we are not always in control of what we are going through or even how it will come out. I have found that when things in my life are in a turmoil if I think on the book of Job I start to look on the things I am going through in a different way and I remember to give it over to God and to leave it there. I remember that He not I knows exactly how much I can tolerate and He will not allow more than I can bear.
In another's way of thinking I may have missed entirely why Job was even written but for me it gives me strength when I am weak calm when I am stressed and hope when I begin to feel defeated. Just my thoughts for today, who knows what wisdom and knowledge tomorrow will bring! May God Bless You and Your Endeavors Mightily!
Barbara Philbrook
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Yes Jobs story is true. I believe this with all my heart. I think God allowed
the devil to have his way to show him that people will serve God and take a
stand for Him.
I believe that when the end of time has come and the devil is in hell, he won't
be able to tell God he didn't have a chance to prove or show anything, God can
look at him and tell him he had his way for a very long time now it is over for
him. God doesn't have to prove anything to anyone but He is a fair God and gives
everyone their will and allows them to do as they wish.
Cille
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God doesn't have to prove anything to anyone! Yes, He knows everything! He
knew how Job would suffer the loss of all things, and still maintain his
integrity. Job, I believe was a real person with real problems as we all have.
I believe most folks lose sight of the real meaning of his sufferings. We live
in a sin-cursed world, and as a result, we suffer the maladies of sin and
illnesses accompanied with being in this situation, BUT, we have the promise
that God won't put more on us than what we can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13. "There
hath no temptation (testing) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will
with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
We all go through the valleys, and waters, Isaiah 43:2. "When thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." Throughout all of the trials of life
we have the blessed assurance that the Lord is there with us. Psalm 23, Hebrews
13:5. "Let your conversation (the way you live) be without covetousness; and be
content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee."
Delmer G. Lawson
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The Book of Job is for people just like me- over the hill and overwhelmed and
fed up with life but still dedicated to the Lord- just can't help it since I am
sold out in body mind and spirit. With 45 years of excellent health and now
operating on a 5 year old level in most areas due to a rare brain disease and
the wrong anti-seizure med the doc gave me a while back, I struggle and then
stop myself and wait on the Lord to 'lead guide and direct- often by laying down
and praying, meditating or reading as best I can in my unusual state.
With hundred's praying for me all over, I know God has a plan for me, I just
have to use patience- something I had little of growing up in a dysfunctional
family starting in 1954 in California as an abused Catholic, getting to Oklahoma
during the Vietnam War by using my Civil Air Patrol and college credits to
become a pilot, getting saved at age 21 and 1st Baptist in '75, marrying my
Pentecostal wife 6 months later in '76, moving to Hobbs, NM after getting my
B.S. in Elementary ed, when I found out afterwards that no one wanted men to
teach kids back then, so going into the Petroleum business for 8 years until the
bottom fell out (as it always has), then using the rest of my GI Bill to get my
Master's @ Texas Tech, leading me back to Hobbs to be a counselor for just 2
years under an atheist shrink (bad deal for sure) which lead me into the
explosive's business until this past year.
I now live on my Social Security, since I have no working memory or energy
(yet!) And sleep deprivation, yet still do children's minister at our Nazarene
church here in Hobbs, New Mexico where my wife was born and raised. It's been a
tough uphill road so far, yet God gives me what I need to get through each day,
and a Pastor who is there for me when I need him. There's much more to my
testimony, but that's for another time if needs be. I trust this helps
Greg Parker
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God knew Job's response....Satan was not really getting the victory.....and
it allowed Job to move into a deeper relationship with God. God does allow
(permit) Believers to go through trials and tribulations for several reasons:
rebuke sin in our lives; mature us; to shut the devil up (you know he has a big
mouth); refine our lives; glorify God (we learn how to call on Him more when we
are going through something); and the list can go on. We must remember, when it
was all done...at the very end...God told Job to pray for his friends that had
misquoted Him. When Job prayed he was abundantly blessed.....even more than at
the beginning.
Pastor Anderson
