Job Introduction
Introduction
The book of Proverbs is a book of wise sayings. These sayings describe how godly character usually leads to success. The book of Ecclesiastes, however, softens this. It warns that godly character does not always bring rewards. That’s because evil or wickedness has come into our world. Evil changed the world from what God had intended. The book of Job explores this idea even more. It tells how godly people sometimes suffer. Job has long talks with his friends, and then with God. These talks were written as poetry. This way of writing was common in ancient times.
Job is introduced as a very good man. Job loves God and keeps God’s commands. But Satan is also in this story. He is the enemy of God’s people. Satan comes to God with a question. Do people live good lives because they know they will be rewarded? Or are they good because they truly love God? So God allows Satan to bring suffering into Job’s life.
When the suffering comes to Job, Satan expects that Job will curse God. But Job does not curse God. Instead, he has long talks with his three friends. Their names are Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. These friends think they know exactly why and how things happen in life. They are sure that Job has done something wrong. They think God is punishing Job. So Job and his friends argue about this.
Then God comes to Job. God shows his power and wisdom in creation to Job. Job admits that his understanding of God is limited. God also says that Job’s three friends are wrong. They do not know everything God is doing. In the end God blesses Job. Job is given twice as much as he had before.
The book of Job reminds us that there is a huge difference between God and human beings. We cannot know the mind of God. Our understanding of God and his ways is very limited. But we must remember that God has a saving plan for the world. And that for his divine purposes there are times when godly people will suffer.
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Job Introduction: NIrV
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Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
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