Lessons from Job: God's Goodness and Justice

We are familiar with Job's story. We know that to suffer like Job, means to suffer terribly. Maybe you know the expression, "the patience of Job." Do we know why he was patient or how to emulate his patience? I confess that when I think about Job, I say to myself, "I hope I am not tested like he was." There is more to the record of his story than his plight. We must try to remember the wisdom learned from his life too. There are blessed principles to learn about God. Job's story occurred possibly as far back in time as the story of Abraham. Whoever wrote this tale also did with literary finesse, using poetry and prose to weave a well-told story.

The first lesson I see from Job pertains to what we are most familiar with...his despair. He has gone from great riches to rags and by Job 3:1-10 he has cursed the day he was born. We find a human response of grief and pain. When we suffer from the loss of a loved one or failing health, the grief and pain that comes with it is natural and human. It is not a sin to feel those pangs of sorrow. It is how we handle those feelings that reveal our character. We can become bitter and angry or we can follow Job's example and learn to trust God in spite of such evil in this present life.

But we have 37 more chapters from which to glean wisdom.

The second lesson is one about faith. By chapter 19:25-26 Job has already demonstrated a growth in faith. Not because of his inner strength, but God has revealed more about Himself in order for Job to respond in greater faith. After hearing his three friends reasoning for why he suffered and hearing their advice for getting out of suffering, Job espouses what he understands to be true about his circumstances. It is not because he has sinned that God has allowed such suffering. He will not fake repentance in order to simply gain back his wealth and comfortable living. He begins to discern the justice of God. He declares His faith in God, not yet acknowledge God's perfect justice, but His grace....He believes God will redeem Him from death and misery. He will be redeemed because of God's goodness not his own.

Thirdly, we learn about gaining wisdom. Job knows that humans produce knowledge and that only from God can we find wisdom. In chapter 28 Job reflects on God's omnipotence and how that the beginning of gaining the wisdom of God is in fearing God and turning from evil.

Fourthly, Job learns through his circumstance that God is unchangeable and forever worthy of worship, honor, and glory. In the ensuing chapters, we find beautiful descriptions of the magnificence of God. It is God Himself who declares His Majesty. Listen to some of them: 38:4-24; 38:25-39:30

after hearing God's self-revelation, Job can no longer claim that God is unfair and has treated him unjustly in His loss of family, possessions, and wealth. He learns that all evil only occurs inside God's limits and that God has the power to turn evil for good. 38:8-11 Who are we as humans with so little understanding able to tell God, what is just? In 42:1-6 Job finally declares that God is just whether we experience blessings or sufferings, knowing God and having His promises surpass all sorrow. With complete faith in God's goodness and justice, God then restores Job's family and wealth. 42:10, 12-15. IT is now that Job can appreciate all that He has. Because of God's goodness, not because of Job's own righteousness, or because God owes it to him. God is just and God is good - in all circumstances.

Job's story teaches us how to trust and to praise God in the good times and the bad. Paul echoes this in his letter to the Philippians. That in any circumstance He is content, because of Christ's strength.

(Consulted LaSor, Hubbard, and Bush's Chapter on Job 471-496 in their work Old Testament Survey.)