The Book of Job and the Problem of Evil

This last Sunday we turned our focus on the first two chapters of Job and discussed what God had to say about evil and suffering through this story. If you missed Sunday and haven't read in Job for some time, I encourage you to sit down, crack open the book and at least read the first two chapters. Most of the rest of the book is more difficult to read (but still rewarding), but the first two chapters are easy and shouldn't take more than 5 or 10 minutes.

OK, done? :)

I asked the class to discuss six questions I felt there might have been answers to in the text. I'll list the questions, references, and summarize the discussion below:

1. Why did God single out Job to Satan? (1:8, 2:3)

This is a difficult question to answer, and we should always tread lightly when guessing God's motive without it being explicitly revealed. Some answers were, "to teach Job a lesson" and "to teach Satan a lesson". I like these. I also put forth "to bring attention to His glory". God is glorified in the faith and worship of His creatures. Pointing out Job's righteousness is a way to bring glory to Himself. Consider how this might motivate God in what He does in this story and your story.

2. What is Satan's motivation in this story? (1:9-11, 2:4-5)

I believe that it is ultimately to defame God...detract from His glory. Satan wants to show God that He shouldn't receive glory from Job because Job is only faithful for what God gives him, not because of who God is. Consider this when thinking about how and why the enemy might attack you.

3. Is Satan free to do whatever he wants to? (1:11-12, 2:5-6)

Obviously not. He appears free to think, desire and plan, but ultimately God is sovereign and Satan can do nothing apart from God's permission or restraint. How does lead you think about the bad things that happen in your life? As we discussed before, evil can be explained in part by God allowing his creatures the freedom to choose against Him...but there is apparently a limit to the evil that God will allow. Cross reference these verses with 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 in regards to God restraining evil, and with Luke 22:31-32.

4. By what methods does Satan attack Job? (1:15-19, 2:7)

Satan apparently had/has the ability to provoke men to evil and violence (the Sabeans), cause natural disasters, and infect with disease. Obviously not every evil act of man, natural disaster or sickness has Satan behind it. But how does this open your eyes to what happens around you?

5. Characterize Job's response to His suffering. (1:20-22, 2:10)

Its important to study Job's reaction to his pain because the Bible says that in it he did not sin.

Job grieved. The tearing of the robe, shaving the head and mourning were typical cultural expressions of grief. Its OK to be sad when life is painful.

Job worhipped. Our pain and suffering does not change who God is. He is still holy and requires our worship.

Job self medicated. I think. The bit in 2:10 about scraping himself with potsherds seems to me some way to deal with the pain or discomfort of his boils. If you're sick, go to the doctor. If you are deeply wounded, seek Godly counsel. If you you are exhausted, take some time to rest.

Job acknowledged God's sovereignty. This goes hand in hand with worship. Job knows God is sovereign and just, even if he does not understand it. Without all of his questions being answered, at least for now he is content to receive from God whatever God plans.

6. Who does Job blame for his problems? (2:10)

Could Job have raged against the Sabeans for stealing his livestock and demanded justice? Could he have cursed nature for killing his children? Could he have blamed the devil (though he didn't know about the conversation between God and Satan)? Since he believes God is sovereign, why is he not angry with God?

Job believes God is ultimately responsible...He could stop it if He wanted to. But he does not assign blame to anyone. Can we understand responsibility without blame?

And this tension is what makes the rest of Job, I think. Job sees the apparent injustice of what has happened to him. He is horrified and tortured about it, because he knows His God could have stopped it, but didn't. He can't blame God, but he knows He is responsible.

If that is bothering you, I reocmmend you read the rest of the book, or at least the last four or five chapters when God breaks the silence to answer Job.

One more point that is embedded in some of the questions above is that the evil done to Job was planned, desired and perpetrated by Satan. Yet God explicitly allowed it to happen for His purpose. We don't always know why things happen. Take comfort that God is in control and working all things to the good of those who love Him, but don't accuse God of evil. Evil come from His creatures, not from God.