The Book of Job is one of the most interesting books in the Bible. Job’s life and experiences have provided hope and healing for many of God’s people. Some on the other hand view Job’s life and story as only a fanciful story not to be taken as reality. However, Scripture views Job and his story as history and not make believe.
The author of Job presents Job as an actual person living in an actual place (1:1). According to the author Jehovah considered Job to be an actual person (1:8). Ezekiel refers to Job alongside Noah, and Daniel, whom both were actual persons (Ez. 14:14, 20). In the New Testament, James refers to Job’s endurance (Jam. 5:11). It should also be noted that Paul quotes from Job in Romans 11:35 and 1 Corinthians 3:19.
Some think of the book of Job as only about suffering and endurance. And while that may be true, it is only part of the story. We mustn’t overlook the cosmic battle between good and evil that opens the story (Job 1:8-11; 2:3).
The sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them (Job 1:6). Job didn’t know it but he had found himself in the midst of God and Satan. From that moment Job is tested. Satan takes Job’s property and children. As if that wasn’t enough the next time Satan presented himself before the Lord he wanted another chance to see if Job would hold to his integrity. The Lord allowed Satan to strike Job with awful sores from his head to feet (Job 2:1-8).
What I have found intriguing is God’s perspective of Job. God says twice that there is none like Job in the earth and that he is blameless and upright, and that he fears God and turns away from evil. Job’s character is of the upmost importance to the story of Job. Job never knows why he suffered the way he did. You will not find the explanation given to him.
Suffering is evidence that something is terribly wrong with the world. As a pastor I have had to counsel and console those who are suffering. the Book of Job is the most thorough treatment of suffering in the Bible . Perhaps the most important thing to remember when using the Book of Job for counseling people, or ourselves, is that we, unlike Job, know some of the reasoning of his suffering, despite the fact that Job never knew why he suffered. As we counsel people we do not have such an advantage as to the reasoning behind their agony. We must not try to answer the why of their suffering, rather we offer a response to suffering.