If you've never read it before, Job is quite a fascinating book. There's a lot of mystery to it, like the date it was written, the meaning of the book, was it a real event or a parable. I hesitated on whether or not to state this, but I'll tell you my thoughts on this last one. I lean toward the opinion that the account of Job is a parable, and not a real event. Scholars much smarter than me disagree and believe that the book of Job captures a literal person and the events were real. Other scholars take it as more parable-like in nature. Job is considered 'Wisdom' literature in biblical genre, and is similar to writings of its kind from the Ancient Near East. Many of these writings included the same theme of understanding the meaning of life in the face of suffering. (like the Egyptian piece "A Dispute Over Suicide", sounds like a fun read, doesn't it?)
Don't think that because it might not reflect real events that it is irrelevant.
On the contrary, either view doesn't lessen what this book can teach us. Job probes deep into the soul of why suffering exists. I can't help but think that as we've been reading this book one of the greatest tragedies of our time occurred with the earthquake in
Haiti. The estimation is that 200,000 lives were lost in the devastation. It's hard to understand why this would happen. The timing of reading Job in all of this is something that we should think about.
Let me say, if you're going through tough stuff right now, don't be afraid to dialogue with God and others about it. I spoke with a high school student at a
retreat I taught at last weekend and this young person has been through some incredible things. This student questioned me because I said that God can take anything that happens in life and turn it into a blessing. They wondered and seriously questioned this, and still need to work this out with God. I have another married friend who has had a physical injury that has put them out of commission from 'normal' life for the last 7 weeks. God is at work in this couple's life in cool ways because of this, and they recognize it.
I can attest personally right now that God has me in the most vulnerable position I've ever been in in my entire life. If I don't have Him right now, I'm lost. But thank God I can rely on knowing that He is at work in ALL things. We can all take rest in that.
But sometimes it's easy to see God working, and other times it's not at all.
Why do things tragic or challenging things happen to us? Only God knows the answer, I believe that rings true in the book of Job. But remember, God has the ultimate authority and He is in control.
Job 19:25 in a way can summarize the entire book: I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end will stand upon the earth. God hasten the day!PS. So, do you recall my goal in this journey? (to remember the theme of each chapter) To remember Job, and all of our reading, it's best to know the overview of the entire writing. Think of the book this way:
Job 1-2 prologue/events in the story
3-32 Job and his three friends dialogue on the reason for suffering
33-37 Elihu, a new and younger character speaks
38-41 God speaks and reminds Job He is in control of all things
42 Job's response/epilogue in the story
READ ON!
