The Message of Job

Job is a hard book. It deliberately challenges the easy axioms of religion, claims that righteousness is rewarded and wickedness is punished. At times the book contradicts Proverbs, putting the easy short proverbs into the mouths of Job's friends.

Why do the righteous suffer? 

A first pass through the book of Job might suggest the answer, "God allows suffering so that He can prove things to Satan (or other beings.)" This suggests that suffering has a supernatural purpose that we just don't see. But at one point in the book an argument is made that God has no need to prove Himself to mere humans. (This is hinted at in Elihu's remarks -- I'd like to find a clear reference.) The same argument can be used for God proving Himself to The Accuser -- God really does not need to do that. The beginning scene in Heaven does not really give a full answer!

So why does Job suffer? The basic answer of Job is that mankind's understanding of justice and righteousness is so miniscule that we have no clue as to why God does some things and we probably never will. 

This is very unsatisfying!

I used to think that if my knowledge could be described as a circle of diameter 5 feet then God's knowledge was a larger circle of diameter 10 feet or 20 feet. The message of Job is that if my knowledge of justice and righteousness is the size of a dime then God's knowledge is the size of the earth. That there is no real comparison between human knowledge and God's. 

A friend once summarized the book of Job this way. 

• Q. Why do the righteous suffer? 
• A. I am God.

In other words, God does not really provide an answer. This is especially frustrating to those of us who want to make some type of logical argument about God and righteousness and evil.

Secondary messages

There are secondary messages in the book of Job.  Embedded in the dialogue are the following:

• There is eventually justice; righteousness does lead to rewards and wickedness to punishment, but this is complicated and the process takes time, possibly years or decades. (Maybe centuries?)
• God is compassionate and caring, but often not in ways that we want. His compassion (like justice) may require considerable time, possibly years or decades. It is an error to assume that a simple phrase "God loves you" means that you will be happy. It means, instead, that your life can have a longtime purpose, but it still may be painful. (We are offered a life of purpose, a life of meaning, not a life of happiness.)
• When people are hurting, grieve with them and support them. Weep with them. (Romans 12:15.) Times of grief or pain are not times for judgments or explanations. It is certainly not a time for pious platitudes! (In my own life I've learned that one should hug and cry and say little!)

The Bible Project video here describes the differing messages of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job. There is a reason these three books of Wisdom occur together in the Old Testament!