Job - Part Two

In the previous episode, Satan, with God’s permission, tested Job by taking away all his possessions and family. In this episode, God grants Satan permission to continue Job’s test and take away his health, replacing it with pain and agony.

In Job 2:9, Job’s wife says, “Will you maintain your integrity? Curse God and die!” These short sentences help set up two important aspects of Job’s story. The more minor of the two is Job’s relationship with his wife. These sentences are often used by modern readers to condemn his wife for being against Job. However, it is as likely that she is being merciful to him. Death looks like a much better alternative for him than life.

The second, and most important, aspect her comments set up is how humans understand God. In her belief system, God reacts directly based on the actions of humans. If Job is righteous, God lets him live. If Job opposes God, God will kill him.

A primary purpose of the book of Job is to explore and understand the nature of God. Did God reward Job and his friends with prosperity because they were righteous or for some other reason? When Job lost everything, was God punishing him for some unknown sinful behavior or for some other reason? Was God punishing Job at all or was something else going on? Why did so many other people have to suffer because God allowed Satan to test Job? Why does God do what he does? The questions go on and on and on.

Job’s responses to his wife were not rhetorical. He knew he must accept the good and bad that comes to him; he had no other choice. He only desired to know why things happened to him. Why did God behave the way he did?