In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man of all the people of the East. Job 1:1–3.

That the world is full of suffering, physical, emotional and spiritual, no one would deny. Everybody knows something about it, and some people know a great deal. Hospitals throughout the country are full aU of the time, and to see a doctor one often has to make an appointment weeks in advance. Then there is also the untold amount of suffering of the soul which the public does not see. In countries which

lack the advantages· of modern medical science the amount of suffer ing is much greater. One gets the impression that in Jesus‘ time the world was full of sick people. Many thousands of sick people must have been brought to Him during His earthly ministry. Suffering is common throughout the world, and has bee n throughout all time. This prevalence of suffering perplexes people. Why does the Lord “allow” these things to happen? Unbelieving people have often denied the very existence of God, reasoning that such experiences of pain and sorrow surely cannot come from a loving God. With many people the question will not be put down, “Why me, Lord?” Also, “Why does God bring so much suffering upon His people? Why do good people suffer?” It doesn‘t seem right. And with many people it lasts so long, perhaps a life-time. How can God just leave His children in prisons and persecution camps for years and permit others to be tormented and persecuted even to death?

We find important answers to these questions in the Bible. In fact, there are several answers. We are assured that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. We learn also that the Lord chastises those whom He loves, and that chastening is for our profit. But the question remains; Why are some burdened more than others? Why are the “best” Christians sometimes heavily afflicted? These and related questions are addressed in the book and history of Job.

The land of Uz where Job lived may have been where the Edomites lived later. It is also quite possible that he lived while the Israelites were in captivity in Egypt. We do know that he had a big family, ten children, and was very rich. He was what we would call today, a millionaire. And most important, he was a very godly man. The Lord Himself says that there was nobody like Job in all the earth. So the Lord calls him the best living Christian of that day. What a rare thing, for a rich man, a millionaire to be so godly. He was blameless, having a reputation beyond reproach, he was upright, and he shunned evil, avoiding it constantly. When his children would have a party, he was aware that they might have sinned (which obviously was more probable at such a time) and he would get up early in the morning and bring a sacrifice for each one of them. This he did constantly.

According to chapters 29 and 30 he was a judge sitting in the gate of the city. He was a kind and hospitable man, helping the poor. Because of his wisdom his decisions were much respected and sought, he was a tower of strength to the weak. What an impressive person he must have been! A giant of faith. In all this he was only a shadow of Christ who was to come.

Then we read of the discourse between God and the devil. Satan makes the accusation that Job fears God because the Lord rewards him so lavishly. In  words of our day, it paid Job to serve God. It would  be foolish for Job to live differently. This implied that Job was selfish and was fearing God only for his own gain and benefit, not because he loved the Lord. Doesn’t this come close to describing many nominal church people and in a measure all of us, if we aim to  fear God because we want to go to heaven when we die and are scared of hell?

The rest of the book of Job is an answer to this accusation of the devil. The Lord shows why His people serve Him, and what true faith really is. He shows what “stuff” and “metal” His people are really made of. For Job this meant a period, who knows how long, of intense incredible struggle of soul with  untold misery and pain. But in the end he “came out  on top.”

In his trouble Job never let go of God. Even in the  depths he said, “Though He slay me, still will I trust in Him.” (We recall the fourth word of the cross, the Lord Jesus still calling God, “My God.” God did “slay” Christ, but Christ never let go of Him.) It is in the end of the book of Job that we find him brought to humble submission and recognition of the sovereignty of God. The Lord leads us to trust in Him with and in all our sufferings and afflictions. What God really wants is total submission, and wholehearted self–surrender. This requires persevering prayer. It is only possible through the grace of our faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. This kind of submission we find with Job in the end of the book. God demonstrated to the devil and all his hosts, to the church of all ages and the world, what true faith is, and what spiritual qualities His people are made of.

Often we find ourselves in the stream of suffering humanity. The suffering faces us with the question of what our attitude is towards it. How do we react when afflicted? Of course, we pray. And we learn to know what Paul means when he speaks of praying without ceasing. But, how do we pray and for what do we pray? Only for physical relief? Surely this is usually uppermost in our minds. But this suggests that we are interested in self first of all. And we are inclined to use the Lord when in need, and not to serve and fear Him with a heart of love and faith. And don’t forget, the world of devils is always watching us closely, observing how we react. Remember the accusation of the devil about Job, that he was fearing God because it paid him well.

The Scriptures teach that all of our Christian life must be lived in the fear of the Lord. God’s purpose in our adversities and sufferings is to train in such godly living. Everything must bring us closer to Him. The old saying goes, He often puts us on our backs in order that we will look up. From this consideration we may conclude that in afflictions we may pray for relief, but also that the entire experience and relief will serve to make us more dedicated. I’m sure Job was also interested in physical relief. But even that had to serve the spiritual. He wasn’t just praying, Lord relieve me. He had questions and he needed answers to these important questions for his spiritual life. Paul, when in jail says that, whether he lives or dies, the important question is whether Christ is made great through it all. The Christian is a new creature in Christ, and must live for Him. In the final analysis our lives must be totally submitted to Him. This requires surrender of self, for there is no room for our sinful self in the kingdom of heaven. With sublime language James describes mature and complete Christians, lacking nothing. They enjoy peace beyond human understanding, a calmness of soul, and give glory to God. Job had this in the end as did martyrs and other saints who triumphed over suffering. Observe such Christians.

The devils may watch them closely but the devils are silenced. May we conclude from this that also the good angels are seeing all this with great joy and singing in gratitude? I believe we may. And the Lord says to and of such people, “Those people are mine.”

*The first of several mediations on Job.