i'm confused, what exactly does the book of job say about human suffering?

Question

i have heard from some that that book of the bible, the story of job, explains away the philosophical "problem of evil" but i don't understand how. can someone explain to me the moral of the story of Job?

Answer 1

Marvelous topic.
Job is difficult because of both specifics such as Satan's role and the speeches of the 3 friends and mystery youth.
Job, unlike his friends, insists that God be God i.e. ascribe innocence to Job. The Judge of All must judge right. But God seems to ignore his demand.
Then - in a dramatic, poetic conclusion, God shows Job how humans cannot begin to understand the simplest of God's plans, much less the intricate, intimate issues of the human life.
Job repents of his challenge of God and receives a great reward for his persistence in demanding God be God(ly).

Answer 2

I am not sure about the philosophical "problem of evil." But, I will give you the short of what Job means to me, though it covers a wide range of human problems and suffering. Now mind you it will sound a bit triffle, but I promise it is accurate.

Do not let anything come between you and God. Even if all should fail you and for Job it was in spades! He lost wealth, posestions, family, and the respect of his peers. He went from the number one man on the block to a virtual pariah one message after another. But, he never waivered in his belief in God and for that God rewarded him.

Other things to note. Satan had already set his sights on Job and God knew this already. Mans sin had already given ownership of the Earth to Satan and God honors this to a point. Every time God set a boundary Satan could not cross it.

The saddest thing about the story of Job is too many people see it as God and Satan having a little bet and playing around with humanity much like the Greek gods.

Answer 3

Most people think that when bad things happen to good people it's somehow God's fault. In this book Job is a servant of God. He is rich and he has many children (children were considered blessings from God) Satan is trying to tell other members of the universe that God is not fair because Job is just worshiping God because of all the good things that he has. So God tells Satan that he can take away Job's things, and Satan does. Then Satan takes away his kids, and then his health. In all this Job still maintains his faith in God. Then God and Job have a discussion about who God is. After Job has proved that he remains faithful even under the most dire of circumstances God gives him back everything that he had before plus some without explaination as to WHY the horrible things were allowed to happen to him in the first place.

Answer 4

he charged that God was mistaken in the way He created humans and that no one would want to do the right thing when put under pressure. In fact, he claimed that under test they would even curse God. (Job 2:1-5) In this way Satan called into question the integrity of the human creation.

Therefore, God has permitted enough time for all intelligent creatures to see how this issue as well as the issue of God’s sovereignty would be resolved. (Compare Exodus 9:16.) The eventual experience of human history would reveal the truth about these two issues.

First of all, what would time reveal regarding the issue of universal sovereignty, the rightness of God’s rule? Could humans rule themselves better than God? Would any system of human rule apart from God usher in a happy world free from war, crime, and injustice? Would any eliminate poverty and provide prosperity for all? Would any conquer sickness, old age, and death? God’s rule was designed to do all of that.—Genesis 1:26-31.

Regarding the second issue, what would time reveal as to the worth of the human creation? Was it a mistake for God to have created humans the way he did? Would any of them do the right thing under test? Would any people show that they wanted God’s rule instead of independent human rule?

Answer 5

The lesson is about who causes trouble for man (SATAN) and that God does allow trials to come upon us sometimes. God's ways are mysterious and sometimes difficult to understand but if you stick with God through the hard times and believe in Him and that HE is a re-warder of those who diligently seek Him. He will see you through the trial and reward you at the end of it. Job's friends told him wrong things and Job had to pray for them. Through it all Job did not curse God or blame God so it is also true that God does know what we are able to withstand.

Answer 6

The Book of Job has a lot of information to meditate on. I'll try to highlight the main subject, but it's not going to be short.
This book takes up two important questions: Why do the innocent suffer? Why does God permit wickedness in the earth?

The book explained how Satan the Devil challenged God’s sovereignty. Satan charged God with lying and implied that Jehovah was unfair in not letting Adam and Eve decide for themselves what was right and what was wrong. After Adam and Eve sinned and as the earth began to be filled with their offspring, Satan questioned the motive of all humans. “People do not serve God because they love him,” Satan charged. “Give me a chance, and I can turn anyone against God.” The account of the man named Job shows that this is what Satan believed.

Satan soon tested Job in a number of ways. Some of Job’s animals were stolen, and others were killed. Most of his servants were slaughtered. This brought economic hardship. Further tragedy struck when Job’s ten children died in a storm. Despite these terrible events, however, “Job did not sin or ascribe anything improper to God.”—Job 1:22. Also notice that this all happened at the same time (Job 1:13-19).

Satan did not give up. He must have thought that although Job could endure the loss of his possessions, servants, and children, he would turn against God if he became sick. Jehovah let Satan strike Job with a disgusting, painful disease. But even this did not cause Job to lose faith in God. Rather, he firmly said: “Until I expire I shall not take away my integrity!”—Job 27:5.

Job was not aware that Satan was the cause of his troubles. Not knowing the details about the Devil’s challenge of Jehovah’s sovereignty, Job feared that God was the source of his problems. (Job 6:4; 16:11-14) Still, he kept his integrity to Jehovah. And Satan’s claim that Job served God for selfish reasons was proved false by Job’s faithful course!

Job’s faithfulness provided Jehovah with a forceful reply to Satan’s insulting challenge. Job truly was Jehovah’s friend, and God rewarded him for his faithful course.—Job 42:12-17.

The issue of integrity to God that was raised by Satan was not directed against Job alone. You too are involved. This is clearly shown at Proverbs 27:11, where Jehovah’s Word says: “Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me.” These words, written hundreds of years after Job’s death, show that Satan was still taunting God and accusing His servants. When we live in a way that pleases Jehovah, we actually help to give an answer to Satan’s false charges, and in that way we make God’s heart rejoice.

Notice that Satan said: “Everything that a man has he will give in behalf of his soul.” (Job 2:4) By saying “a man,” Satan made it clear that his charge applied not just to Job but to all humans. That is a very important point. Satan has called into question your integrity to God. The Devil would like to see you disobey God and abandon a righteous course when difficulties arise.

Satan uses various methods to try to turn people away from God. On the one hand, he attacks “like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.” (1 Peter 5:8) Thus Satan’s influence may be seen when friends, relatives, or others oppose your efforts to study the Bible and apply what you learn. (John 15:19, 20) On the other hand, Satan “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil can use subtle means to mislead you and lure you away from a godly way of life. He can also use discouragement, perhaps causing you to feel that you are not good enough to please God. (Proverbs 24:10) Whether Satan is acting like “a roaring lion” or posing as “an angel of light,” his challenge remains the same: He says that when you are faced with trials or temptations, you will stop serving God.

You can answer Satan’s challenge by living in a way that pleases God. What does this involve? The Bible answers: “You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your vital force.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) As your love for God grows, you will be filled with a desire to do what he requires of you. “This is what the love of God means,” wrote the apostle John, “that we observe his commandments.” If you love Jehovah with your whole heart, you will find that “his commandments are not burdensome.”—1 John 5:3.

I hope this information helps you. I tried to keep it a simple as possible, but like I said earlier it's has a lot of points to meditate on. I gave you the scriptural references so you can look them up in your Bible. If you would like more assistance you can e-mail me. Continue studing and growing in faith.

Answer 7

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be the name of the Lord."

"You've created a hedge around your servant Job, Take away his blessings and he'll curse You."

Answer 8

That we should say what is right about God.