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There are things we want to do in life. Then there are things we don’t want to do. My hunch is that most of us wouldn’t admit to feeling this way. But if we had a vote, and if no one would judge, we might prefer that Job didn’t get a turn in this series. 

I acknowledge we are supposed to love and to revere all scripture. That is what many good Baptists have pledged to do, for sure. We love the scripture, and all of it. 

But I’ll bet you don’t have a favorite Job throw-pillow. Complete with some embroidered favorite scripture on it. Do you have a Job bumper-sticker on your car? I know. A Job-inspired bookmark in your Bible?

We have sayings we may not realize are quotes from Job. We have notions about this book. But for most of us, it doesn’t exactly inspire good feelings. For our purposes just now, you might read Job 1, 2, 11, 19 and 42. 

I can recall a time when a family member was living virtually out in the middle of nowhere, with no other family or friends anywhere around. A place not even big enough that you would consider it suburban Franklin. He was underpaid, being mistreated by the people he worked for, feeling lonely. I remember him saying, “I feel like Job.” 

I can remember walking up on a group of people in a community where I’ve served. They were debriefing someone particularly known for a cantankerous personality. But it was the long-suffering spouse they were talking about. Someone said she must surely have the patience of Job. 

We associate misery with Job. We associate unfair amounts of suffering with Job. The theological problems of pain and suffering are front and center. 

So why do we have it? Well, interestingly enough Job is the gateway into the biblical section that is called The Wisdom Literature. A collection that by most accounts also includes the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and even Song of Solomon.

Some people believe that Job is simply an allegory, written to represent humanity overall and our suffering. Also, to tell about where God might be found in the midst of the inevitable hard times. Others believe that Job is a literal account of one person’s life, chronicling their undue suffering as they were caught up in a contest between God and evil personified. 

You and I can only sort that out for ourselves, ultimately. But for me at least, it matters very little. Because either way this is a powerful and inspiring account. Job is a book that gives us much to consider about our God and about our lives. 

As Job opens, we find a dispute between God and Satan. Our writer is exploring the presence and reality of human suffering and especially how bad things can sometimes happen to good people. 

He has noticed this reality departs from the old Hebrew assumption that hardship was always punishment for sin. So now in this story we hear of a contest being set up. 

Suffering will be allowed to be introduced into the life of an innocent man and then we’ll all sit back to watch the results. Will this challenge his faith? How will he relate with God? 

What can we do with a book like Job? For starters, we could take our model more from Job than from his friends and family. As chapter 38 approaches, we will see Job appeal directly to God for understanding. Job will voice understandable frustration. 

Actually, Job will ask a long version of the eternal question: how can a good and loving God allow so much pain and suffering to happen, including among seemingly good or relatively innocent people?

Have you ever held stubbornly to a belief about God, only later to reject or modify that belief? I heard a Baptist layman deliver an inspiring message once. In that he said, “When we talk about God, we should do so humbly, just in case we’re wrong. Because aren’t we always a little bit wrong?” That’s what Job confessed to God in the end. 

Job felt as though God’s vision was fuller and God’s understanding was greater. This did not minimize his suffering and undue pain. I don’t pretend to fully understand the mysteries of God’s providence. 

Bad things do happen to good people. But Job is so humbled that he confesses he has uttered what he did not understand. Though laborious and painful, Job teaches us invaluable lessons.

DR. CHARLES QUALLS is senior pastor at Franklin Baptist Church. Contact him at 757-562-5135.