Page 26 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Study Section 3: The Book of Job - continued

3.1 Connect

As already noted, the conversations among Job and his friends continue for two more
cycles. We could follow their arguments back and forth, yet as the speeches progress,
fewer connections between specific speeches can be found. Several themes in Job’s
personal faith, however, come to the front. He is quite a remarkable man for a person
with so little revelation at his disposal. He is remarkable in his faith in a mediator, his
confidence in the wisdom of God, and in the practice of personal righteousness.

Job agrees with the outlines of the theology expressed to this point. He agrees that the godless will be
cut off (27:8). The Almighty will oversee their downfall, a downfall so thorough that what a wicked man
lays up for himself actually will be used by the righteous (29:10-17). Yet this true theology is not true in
Job’s case. He intends to die maintaining his integrity and innocence (27:5-6). Somehow the theology is
wrong. God has denied Job justice (27:2). God’s sovereign decisions in Job’s life are particularly difficult
because he knows that “the breath of God” is in his nostrils. Suffering does not come indiscriminately.
God is doing this for a reason, so far a hidden reason. His viewpoint is not unlike many modern sufferers.

“If God didn’t control evil, then evil would come hurtling at us uncontrolled. (Read
that one again!) I for one am relieved that God
clearly claims to run the world – not “could”
run it if He wanted to, or “can” step in when
He has to – but does run it, all the time. Even
when it sins. Even when we suffer. What’s
more, He doesn’t say, “into each life a little rain
must fall” and then aim a hose in earth’s
general direction to see who gets the wettest.
He claims that not the slightest thing touches
us without first receiving His nod. All for the
working out of His mysterious and wonderfully
strange plan.” Figure 13: Birmingham fire hose
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His suffering has caused Job to struggle deeply with his faith. His suffering has pushed him in this
direction. Something is wrong, yet Job cannot put his finger on the problem. During those
sleepless nights, those lonely days on the ash heap rejected by the community, and those well-
meant but wrong speeches of his friends, his mind and heart have been searching for answers.
Job has concluded. He wants, he needs, a mediator to judge between him and God.

35 Joni Eareckson Tada, “God’s Heart on Suffering,” Moody Monthly, Sept/Oct, 1997, 78.
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