What "moral lesson" is taught by the story of Job?

Question

In case you're unfamiliar, quick synopsis: Satan and God are talking. God points out how much Job loves him. Satan says that Job only loves God cause his life is so swell. God and Satan make a bet that if everything is taken away from Job, he won't love God anymore. So, God lets Satan kills Job's kids, take away all his stuff and makes him really ill. Job still worships god. He does ask god "why" and god replies with "who are you to ask me?"

In the end Job gets new kids, stuff and isn't sick any more.

What moral lesson does this story teach?

Answer 1

"God" can do whatever he wants to you, and you're gonna take it and like it mister.

Answer 2

Interesting. I just took a class on the problem of evil and this was one of the things covered.

Anyway...slight correction: the challenge between God and Satan was not a "bet." Rather, it was a curse on Satan's part. There was no material exchange of any kind, because there was nothing that Satan could possibly gain. I see it as more comparable to Jesus's telling Peter that he would deny him three times before the c.ock crows [also, note to Yahoo: I'm talking about ROOSTERS, not the male sex organ. Dumbf*cks].

Now, then, as for the book of Job itself, the more important part of it wasn't necessarily Satan's curse, but Job's argument with his friends, who had come to comfort him, and God himself. His friends claim that it is Job who has caused his own suffering. This was the popular theology at the time: that one's poverty/suffering was due to some sin that they had committed. Job challenges this belief directly, and thus angers his friends, by claiming that he himself is blameless.

As for Job's argument with God, Job had been demanding an explanation on God's part as to why this stuff has been happening to him. He also cursed creation, and the day he was born, and thus, by extension, God himself (so in a way, Satan was right). But then God himself came down to see Job and the basic gist of his message was "I am God, and you are not. Capisce?" He also took Job pretty much on a tour through creation, and challenged him to do anything anywhere approaching that. This is when Job admits that he is not, in fact, as great as God. God then turns to the friends and says "Right then, now that that's settled, you're all bastards. Go pray for your souls." The friends had not been speaking of God correctly, and, in fact, were only really religious because they expected some sort of reward in return, while Job has been humbled to the point where he expects no such thing.

So basically, the moral lesson is that you shouldn't be in a religion just to expect rewards from God, especially during life. Also, not everyone suffers because they've sinned; some people suffer for no goddamn reason. It is these people who will, ultimately, receive the bulk of God's love, BECAUSE they are suffering.

Does this make any sense at all?

Answer 3

It teaches us about faith and obedience. Job was faithful to God no matter what. He knew that God was in control of his life. He also knew that by being obedient to the promises of God, he would be blessed. Have you ever shared a secret with a friend, and made an oath not to tell anyone? If you are a good and faithful friend you will keep the secret and thereby gaining the love and blessing of your friend. The same with Job, he was faithful to God and did not unwaver in cursing him like his friends and his wife wanted him to. That was what satan wanted more than anything, even if he had to use Job's friends and family to try and accomplish it. But Job, being a faithful servant to the Lord, refused to do such a thing. As for Job questioning God about anything, I would like you to show scripture for this. I do believe that Job never questioned God, since he knew God was Almighty. If Job can go through all this and still be faithful and love and want to serve God, who are we to question his reasons? Job said, The Almighty giveth and The Almighty taketh away.
Behold, happy is the man who God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:..Job 5:17

Can you please give the scripture where Job ask God why or did you just make that up ?

Lap Top Jesus I have emailed you and asked the question here as well.Why won't you give the scripture in regards TO YOUR QUESTION ???????????????

Answer 4

From my limited knowledge, God pointed to Job as the most faith full of the time. The devil indicated that Job was so only because he had it made in the shade. And so God removed his almighty umbrella from over Job's head and let the devil have at him. Job lost everything but his miserable skin diseased life. He still praised and thanked the Lord for that. I don't know if that story can be true cause it makes me feel like we are all pawns in a game.

Answer 5

The real moral lesson is that God won't ask any of us to do anything he wouldn't do himself.

In Job, God allows evil to have it's way with a good and innocent man, but in the end, good (and God) triumphs.

In the Gospels, we get to meet the man God had in mind when Job was written, Jesus Christ, and we see him given over to the forces of evil, but in the end, good (and God) triumph once again.

Answer 6

The really vacuous bit is the implication you shouldn't worry if your kids get killed, because if you're really good, then God will make you some new ones. Creepy.

The less vacuous bit is the pretty sharp criticism of Job's "comforters" - just because bad things happen doesn't mean you've been bad.

Answer 7

To me it says that even in the bad times I should trust GOD. It also says that bad things happen to good people and that it has always been that way so what ever happens to me is not something new and the GOD I serve is big enough to restore, even better, everything I have lost.

Answer 8

It is a very good thing to place your faith in God in every circumstance. What good it would have done if Job cursed God like his wife suggested him to do.? Job loved God, and as he did not understand in his sorrow why he had to be going through this..he was wise to not to take his friends jabbering as a wisdom either ( when you are in suffering: do not take advice from your foolish friends...especially if they have silly names like Eliphaz, Bildad and Ziphar ). Job got rewarded for his faithfulness to God. It is easier love and honor God when things are good...but we really need Him when things start to go wrong. If you think that they cannot get any worse, they just can. Place your trust in God in every circumstance. If you suffer here, He has the whole eternity to make it up to you. : )

Answer 9

To continue trusting in the Lord, even when your life is at it's worse- instead of giving up and cursing God, as Job's wife told him to do- Job had unfailing faith and love towards God, and he was truly blessed in the end. Gotta have faith!! More and More faith and not give up hope in the Lord- To continually trust that He is going to restore you and "rescue you from the pit" as the Old Testament states from personal experiences of others.
Job knew the Lord would deliver him- and he knew the awesomeness of God and never gave up his faith in the Lord.
Great lesson!!

Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Answer 10

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Jam 5:10-11


He personifies:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Mat 6:33-34

and:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:28

Answer 11

No moral lesson - a faith lesson: The ways of God will always be just, just not apparent to humanity.