John,

The book of Job explores God's purpose in human suffering. Job's friends assumed that Job had sinned and thus he was being punished by God. This is common among many Christians today who believe that people who suffer are experiencing the consequences of their sin. So Job's friends thought that Job's sufferings were evidence that his sin was great.

In John 9:2 even Jesus' disciples asked him "who sinned. this man or his parents, since the man was born blind?" Many Jews, like Job's friends, believed that every temporal misfortune was God's punishment for some specific sin. With congenital affliction the explanation could be that the sin had been comitted in the womb, or by the parents whose sinful act victimized their child. Jesus dismisses these as improper explanations (v.3), but this is not to say that certain trials are not the God-ordained punishment for certain sins (for example look at the consequences in the life of David after His adultery and murder, 2 Samuel 12-21). Neither does Jesus here dismiss the biblical doctrine of original sin (Romans 5:12-21), which teaches that all suffering is the consequence of our corporate sin and rebellion in Adam. But it is unwise and uncharitable to judge that the suffereings of others were specifically punitive (Matthew 7:1). The question put to Jesus presents a false dilemma. Only two possibilities were given as reasons for the man's affliction, his own sin or the sin of his parents. Jesus offers a third option (v.3).

Some of our sufferings like the trials of Job, are for God's glory, either through our resulting refinement or through a spectacular healing as in the case presented in John 9. God's purpose is not always presently known to us, but we have God's assurance that His purpose is good (Romans 8:28).

So as Job confronts the heartless counsel from his friends which was being used by Satan to accuse him falsely, he says things for which he must later repent (Job 42:5,6). He knows his friends are wrong, but he cannot understand how a pious person like himself should suffer so much when the godless enjoy prosperity and health (Job 12:6).

Like the Psalmist, Job often complains to God in the language of legal disputes. Some of what Job says shocks his friends. While they say all the right things about God, they never say anything to God. Job wrestles with God and tells Him every doubt and fear. His relationship with God is vital while theirs consists of dead aphorisms. It is not so much what they say, as how they apply it to Job, that shows the arrogance of their insisting that they know why Job is suffering. They are insensitive (Job 13:4, 5; 16:2; 19:21), as well as shallow and presumptuous regarding divine things. Job has been falsely accused; he is not suffering for his sins, though he cannot avoid wondering about this. But even though he imagines God is angry with him, in his better moments he still believes God is just and will provide a Redeemer (Job 16:19-21; 19:23-27).

This hope finally becomes a reality when Job finally has the face-to-face audience with God that he requested (Job 13:15-18; 31:35-37). Job is not rebuked as one suffering for his sins, but is humbled before the Lord as one whose ill-advised speech had obscurred God's purpose (Job 38:2; 42:2,3). God reveals Himself as Job's friend, bringing him before the astonishing works of creation to show him that the One he has reproached is sovereign in goodness and power. Job recognizes that God is and remains his friend.

When his eyes have seen the Lord and he has repented in dust and ashes, Job has come to understand that God on His throne is sovereign, and rewards those who belong to Him despite times of pressure and pain. The reader learns that Job suffered, not because he was one of the worst of men, but because he was one of the best, and that his ordeal Glorified the Lord.

It's interesting that Elihu who I think was the youngest of those who gave counsel to Job waited until his elders had offered their advice first. Then after they had finished making their charges and became quiet he spoke. He's the only one of the counselors who spoke for God when he rebuked them all. Elihu contradicts Job's friends (Job 32), then he contradicts Job (Job 33), proclaims God's justice (Job 34), condemns self-righteousness (Job 35), proclaims God's goodness and majesty (Job 36-37).


Wes