Job, the Character. Job, the Book

Much has been written about Job - the character and the book. This post adds to that continuing dialog. It was stoked by remarks made in an introductory presentation to a Bible study of Job.

The Christian Bible presents two standards of living. The standard of the Old Testament was defined and regulated by The Law - the Ten Commandments and a host of laws that purified and kept the practicing Hebrew clean. The New Testament posits faith in the divinity of Jesus is the foundation for the standard of a good life.

Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law. With this statement, he affirms utility of the law while unequivocally declares it deficient. He then offered "a way to life" that contains the Law, while guaranteeing "salvation". New Testament writings advance Jesus' way.

Job, the character

In the first chapter of the book of Job; Job is established as upright and blameless. But in chapter 3, verse 25; this upright man startles readers when he announces he fears loosing the lifestyle he enjoys. This fear is often the root of avarice when it drives the strong to continue striving and acquiring in order to insure their lifestyle. Though this fear is universal to man, it is startling to hear an upright rich man announce he too, is in the holds of this fear - especially one favored by God. Verse 25 of Chapter 3:

²⁵ What I feared has come upon me;
what I dreaded has happened to me.

In the end of the Job story, Job is poised before God. God speaks and demands that Job answer his questions. God asks Job to explain basic workings and functioning of various world processes. This interrogation opens Job's eyes. For he sees for the first time the awesome task of maintaining the world. God's power and mercifulness as well as His faithfulness have become evident. Job is transformed - made new. His fears quell into a trust in this faithful God. He says,

⁵ My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

⁶ Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."

Like Abraham, Job now has an unchallenged faith in the God. But he paid a price in gaining this transformation to faith - his family, his servants and his riches are lost to him. But now transformed; all previous things are as "dung" to him for he "knows" the power, the mercifulness and the faithfulness of his god. Now a holder of unchallenged trust in God, God rewards Job twofold in riches and grants to him daughters with beauty short of none.

Job, the book

The book of Job is one of three books in the Bible classified as "wisdom" books - Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Job. They record culture-independent time-tested statements gained by experience that gives advice to live a "good" life.

The book commences with its main character in possession of all the qualities that wisdom proposes: good family life, children, wealth, good reputation, respect, etc. It concludes that wisdom cannot guarantee peace nor freedom from turmoil. They alone are granted through a relationship with God. In other words, wisdom cannot take its holder beyond the things of this world. However a relationship with God takes the holder beyond this world into a peace beyond all understanding that quiets the spirit.

Therefore, Job is a book that defines the limits of wisdom. Nineteenth century mathematicians learned a parallel limiting lesson when Kurt Gödel, a logician, proved their quest to discover a finite axiom system that would generate all mathematical truth does not exist.

As the wisdom books are finite collections of statements taken as axioms, it is not surprising that the collection of wisdom statements in these books cannot provide access to all desirable conditions for a good life.

The Continuing Job Debate
Much debate and many side issues have been born from the Job story and the story continues to ferment questions. As Job is innocent and upright, many ask, "Why does a merciful God allow an innocent person to suffer? The book of Job provides some insight to a satisfying answer.

It is common wisdom to judge only after all "relevant" facts have been analyzed. While standing before God, Job learned of the vastness of the world situation. As God exposed the complexity and vastness of the world, we (the readers) as well as Job can imagine the infinitude of relationships needed to keep it going. Thus one learns complete knowledge of relevant facts in a life situation can never be reached.

Further, to wonder why God allows suffering suggests the wonderer feels there is an injustice and he possesses an option leading to a "better" world order. But one can never know the infinitude of connected relevant conditions to a world situation ansits resulting consequences. Therefore a wonderer cannot know a better option. So to entertain the thought that "God allows an injustice to befall and innocent person" is to toss aside the conventional wisdom not judge unless all relevant facts are analyzed.

Christian Scriptures provide another answer. It holds that the world is fallen and under the influence of Satan. God is aware of all. And He has given us through His Word a path of protection that stirs us clear of evil. No promises of freedom from turmoil were made in God's Plan. He only promised spiritual peace and salvation.

Another Issue
Job's family and his servants are dead. But Job goes on to a new and better life. This condition kindles the question, "How should this be reconciled?"

A transformed person is a new creation. The old passes away and the new is the now. Let the dead rest with the dead and the living continue in God. If one does not believe in an after life, Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 says it thusly:

¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. ²⁰ He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

1 Fee, Gordon and Stuart, Douglas, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, Zondervan.

2 The Holy Bible, The New International Version, Zondervan.