This answer leaves Job in a place of humility. It helps us to think of him, not as a one-dimensional character who had this incredible tenacity to endure hardship, but as a real person who honestly didn’t deserve the suffering he was experiencing. THE BOOK OF JOB. He never learns why he is suffering—only that God is wise and just and that we can’t see the whole picture of what God manages from our limited perspective. 1 on a Christian Chart, Christians Shouldn’t Be Fully Committed to Either Party, Evans Says, Francis Chan on Transubstantiation: ‘Don’t Know Where I Land Yet’, Pastor Eric Mason: The Biblical Case for Reparations. 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The book of Job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the New Testament book of James. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. God asks Job if he understands how the world works, or how to take care of it and keep it running. The book of Job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. The book of Job does not mention the Mosaic Law; indeed, Job’s daughters were equal heirs with his sons, and Job himself, though not a priest, offered sacrifices—things not possible under the Law (Leviticus 4:10; Numbers 27:8). Instead of addressing Job’s situation particularly, though, God takes Job on a virtual tour of the universe. It’s much too big for him. Job asks God to come explain his actions (or lack thereof) concerning him. Job is part three of the wisdom literature of the Bible, which is made up of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and finally Job. The Book of Job has long been praised as a masterpiece of literature. God finishes his curious answer by talking about two massive beasts and how they are stunningly strong and dangerous, yet are a part of His good world. (Ver 1.3) This is Part 1 of a series about understanding the Book of Job. In the following video, the book of Job is examined and the theme is presented that even though we don’t understand why some suffering and hardship exist, God is still wise and just. I won’t narrate the complete story, but in summary Job had to go through tremendous calamities. Job (pronounced "jobe"), was a rich farmer living in the land of Uz, somewhere northeast of Palestine. Introduction To The Book. The writer of Ecclesiastes seems to be telling us the world isn’t always fair; life is oftentimes difficult and hard to comprehend. By the end of the book, we see that “Job is now the kind of person who, no matter what comes, good or bad, he can trust God’s wisdom.” He is a tried and tested person of faith, and perhaps this experience has gotten him a little closer to understanding the deep complexities of the universe. If we could see and comprehend the whole thing, perhaps we would understand why we are suffering. Job accuses God of being unjust and not operating the world according to principles of justice, and his friends believe that Job's sin caused his suffering. Abi, I encourage you to filter your understanding of the book of Job through Jesus, rather than vice versa. Job wasn’t being punished in the first place, and him getting everything back isn’t a reward. One of the observations the makers of the video offer is that Job is on an emotional roller coaster. Bad things happen to good people . Then…his life unraveled. Here’s 10 Lessons We Learn From the Book of Job 1.) The intention behind God’s response seems to be to demonstrate to Job that he couldn’t comprehend the complexity of the reality God manages even if he wanted to. The video gives a succinct explanation of the plot of the book, which is helpful considering the poetic language with which the book was written. Some Bible scholars debate whether he was an actual person or legend, but Job is mentioned as a historical figure by the prophet Ezekial (Ezekial 14:14, 20) and in the book of James (). Jesus never said anything about hedges. Job decides to talk directly to God. At times, he is convinced God is just and good. Job is part three of the wisdom literature of the Bible, which is made up of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and finally Job. Reflections on Suffering from the Book of Job 437 gested that theodicy is the theme of the Book of Job.5 If this is so, then the emphasis of the book is not totally on the man Job and his suffering, though he and his suffering are certainly central, but also on God Himself and His relationship to His supreme cre- ation. If you enjoyed this video from the Bible Project, you’ll like these as well: Megan Briggs is a writer and editor for churchleaders.com. If you haven’t read this Old Testament book, you’ve missed out on a major part of the Jewish spiritual understanding of pain and suffering. It’s easy to get lost in the long speeches of Job’s friends and Job’s replies to their speeches. Though we cannot be certain, Job may have lived during the time of Jacob or shortly thereafter. First it’s necessary to understand the context of Job. © 2019 churchleaders.com, All rights reserved. First it’s necessary to understand the context of Job. The book of Job opens in verse one by telling us that Job was a blameless, upright man who feared God and turned away from evil. The Book of Job: The makers of the Bible Project have made an animated video that explains the theme behind one of the most complex books of the Bible. Megan is passionate about seeking and proclaiming the truth.