Job Introduction

The absence of convincing contradictory data suggests that a fair hearing of the evidence points to the existence of a real person named Job. Certainly the style of the opening statement concerning Job (1:1) is much like that of Samuel’s father, Elkanah (1Sm 1:1), whose historical existence is not seriously doubted. Moreover, Ezekiel links Job with two other historical figures, Moses and Daniel (Ezk 14:14,20). Jesus’s brother James apparently accepted the history of both Job and the Lord’s dealing with him as much as the facts concerning the prophets who suffered in their service for the Lord (Jms 5:10-11).

A further area of criticism concerning Job has to do with its theological outlook, which some have categorized as undeveloped. Critics say that God is portrayed in the book as a sovereign who is interested solely in his power and control rather than in the plight of his creatures. Nor can he be the good and merciful God of the later Hebrew-Christian Scriptures, for he seems uninterested in Job’s situation and unwilling to alleviate his suffering until he has demonstrated his mastery over all creation and creatures, including Job.

Such a viewpoint misses a great deal of the presentation of God in the book. From the beginning God is seen to be conscious of Job and his integrity (1:8; 2:3) and concerned for Job’s life (1:12; 2:6). During Job’s long test at the hands of satan, his friends and even Job himself often acknowledged that God is just and the giver of that which is good.

While the book of Job never fully addresses the solution to the problem of suffering, nothing in the book is out of harmony with general scriptural teaching on the subject. Thus the story of Job reminds us that suffering can be a sacred trust allowed by God to bring the sufferer to full dependence on and trust in God. Indeed the meaning of Job’s name (“where is the father”) may reflect the deeper purpose of the book. Rather than asking “Where is God when I need him?” the more basic question may be “Is God sufficient for everything in life?” The answer is a resounding yes. God, not man, is alone the true source for strength, guidance, and success.

Sufferers should realize that God’s power is available for all of life, even to carry them through their severest trials. When we see that God is truly the God of all life, we have a comforting assurance that, whatever may happen, God’s good purposes for our lives will be accomplished.

All of life is for God’s glory and for human good. So it is that when Job came to a realization of God’s sufficiency rather than his own, God’s greatest blessing followed.