The Book of Job is not dated or signed but the events recorded are ancient enough to predate other Biblical writings. If Job were written in his lifetime, which is likely, it would be the oldest book of the Bible. The fact is that we don’t know when or who wrote it apart from it being inspired by the Holy Spirit and revealed to his chosen human author. Since the Book of Job is included in the Old Testament canon of Scripture, it is as inspired as all the other books of the Bible and its author or authenticity should not present any means for doubt.
The customs practiced in the story of Job would indicate that he was probably a contemporary of Abraham. If that is true, the events recorded in Job took place long before Moses wrote the Pentatuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Moses was the author of those books which start with creation and overlap Job’s era, but Moses doesn’t mention Job at all. He focuses on the Nation of Israel, their origin, redemption and journey to the promised land. So since the events of Job occurred generations prior to Moses, it’s likely that what we know as the book of Job was recorded in ancient times and passed down through the generations until it made its way into the Old Testament canon alongside several other books of wisdom and poetry. But the Bible leaves no doubt that Job was a real person and his story is accurate and true. It is in no way merely a tale designed for teaching. Therefore, by extension, all the events recorded in Job are validated by the Word of God as well (Ezekiel 14:14, James 5:11).
The story begins by establishing Job as a righteous and wealthy head of a family (Job 1:1-3). But then the narrative changes to things that occur in heaven in the spiritual realm. Satan gains permission to cause Job to suffer. God, in his sovereignty, allows this test. Job goes through various stages of intense suffering, losing his wealth and children and enduring painful sores on his body. Then his friends arrive and get around to stating their assessment of the situation. None of them were privileged to know the things that previously transpired in the spiritual realm so it comes as no surprise that Job and his friends made some mistakes in response to Job’s affliction. We must remember that this was partly due to a limited understanding of God and his ways. The people of Job’s day probably had come to a consensus that those who did good in God’s eyes were blessed and people who received pain and affliction were being punished by God because of some sinful behavior. But God is not bound to a hypothetical law of fairness that forces him to conform to it. He is omniscient and sovereign and is above all things. God took this opportunity to reveal this truth to mankind through the life and times of Job. In modern times, we have access to the entire revealed Word of God – the sixty-six books of the Bible (including the entire book of Job), the full benefit of Jesus, his life, death and resurrection and excellent teachings recorded by the apostles. We have access to all the knowledge we need about God. And we have the Holy Spirit who indwells us and illuminates the Scriptures and guides us into understanding and truth. Job and his friends had none of that. They literally had not one book of the Bible to draw from. Instead, God used their experience and recorded their mistakes and Job’s frustration of not knowing the reason why these things were allowed to happen to him. Now much knowledge about God has now been available to all mankind ever since the events mentioned occurred. And so because of Job’s suffering and the mistakes of his friends, the world has gained the full written record of his story which is included in the canon of Scripture. From that we have a wealth of knowledge about God and his attributes, power and wisdom. Most importantly, we have confirmation that we will not always understand why God does things but we should trust him anyway. We would do well to worship God especially when we don’t know why things are the way they are (Job 1:21). It is clear that these important events were part of God’s progressive revelation of himself to his creation, namely all mankind who lived from Job’s time until present day.
The Conclusions of Job and His Friends
When Job’s first three friends arrived, they were silent for seven days and nights. Job was the first to speak and they each offered their assessment of the circumstances that lead to his suffering. Job was frustrated at their attempts to find fault with him and scolded them for being miserable comforters.
Then Job replied:
“I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head at you.
But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:1-5
Job actually had four friends that came to console him. Three arrived together and one later. Each of them had things to say and Job responded to each of them as well. Much of what they said was inaccurate and incomplete though some truth was contained here and there. His first three friends relied on what must have been the conventional wisdom of the day, namely, that God punishes the wicked. So, using that premise, if someone is suffering then it must be because of a sin committed by that person. So his friends were focused on some hypothetical sin Job must have committed though none of them could specifically identify what it was. Job denied any unrighteousness on his part. The fourth friend took a slightly different approach and stated that God was using suffering to mold and train Job. He was not correct in this assessment of this situation but was the only one not rebuked by God. That doesn’t mean he was right, only perhaps that he included more truth and less error than the others. The fact is that the fourth friend was not informed on the facts of the case. He said some things that were right but not relevant to the situation. In the end God rebuked the three friends (Job 42:7-9) and set Job straight (Job 40-41). Job got the message and repented from demanding an answer from God (Job 42:1-6 shown below). We can conclude that God is sovereign and just. Not all suffering is a result of sin. And we must exercise care and humility when attempting to comfort others, being careful not to make matters worse. Finally, there are things that will never be explained to us and we must be willing to trust in the Lord even without explanations.
Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.
Job 42:1-9
Believers today have so much revelation about God and his ways that we are blessed beyond measure. Job received double what he started with prior to his suffering. That may seem like a generous compensation for his participation in this revelation about God. He was already the greatest man among all the people of the East before the story started (Job 1:3). But what we have in Christ, in the complete Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit is insurmountably greater than whatever else the world can offer (Ephesians 1:3-14 shown below).
Job was tested. He was frustrated because he didn’t understand why these things were happening to him. To make matters worse, his friends did not comfort him, they doubted him and offered inaccurate conclusions. Believers today may experience similar situations. These should be reminders to trust in the Lord and remember his justice and righteousness. In humility we should remember the suffering of Christ our Savior and how he was exalted to the highest place, the right hand of the Father. Ultimately, believers will be exalted to reign with Christ. In times of suffering and frustration, that hope should lead us to a closer relationship and dependence on God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Earlier we discussed how these events in Job occurred before any written Word of God existed. It is quite amazing that God spoke directly to Job much like he did with others such as Adam, Abraham, and Moses (and others). God made hope available to saints of that generation apart from the complete written Word of God in much the same way he does for us through our complete written Word. Hope is a powerful weapon for believers. For example, even in his immense suffering, Job knew enough to state this amazing prophecy:
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19:25-27
Summary
Job was a righteous and wealthy head of a large family. God allowed Satan to torment Job which served as a means of testing his faith. No explanation was offered to Job regarding the situation and Job searched himself for unrighteousness and found none. Ultimately he learned that no mortal is in a position to question God. Believers must trust in God and his holy attributes and be willing to accept whatever he has in store for us with an unwavering, unquestioning faith. Hebrews 11 lists many faithful saints who died martyrs’ deaths. God is just and in the end, he will make all things right. For some, that won’t happen in this life. But in Job’s case, his wealth, status and reputation were restored.
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring
The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years.
Job 42:10-17
Blessing of Believers of our Age
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
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