The Old Testament's Book of Job is a highly controversial part of the Biblical text. The book of Job is part of the collection of Wisdom Literature, along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Like the other Wisdom books Job is primarily composed of poetry. The Book of Job is not simply a story, but a fable, rich with meaning and lessons to be learned. Job attempts to rationalize human suffering and the ways of the Lord. The actual Book in the Bible is for its purpose in teaching us that we must endure what troubles we are given, because it is the will of God. This essay will give a brief outline of the book of Job, and exemplify the issues concerning the lessons of humility, prosperity, and the value of suffering. Job was a virtuous man who lived in Uz with his seven sons and three daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, and five hundred yokes of oxen, five hundred donkeys and many slaves. Each year, he held a feast where Job would have each of his children purified; for fear that they might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. On the day that the angels came to prove before God, God pointed out to the accusing angel (Satan) how righteous and respectful Job was to Him. Satan claimed that Job's actions and character originated with evil and self-serving motives: Job is so righteous and respectful because he has no reason to act otherwise, but if God were to give him adversity, he would curse the name of the Lord. Satan challenges God to test Job, and unwillingly, God accepts. On Earth, Job was suffering with misfortune. All his children died of one tragedy ... ... middle of paper ... ...ice as wealthy as before. His wealth doubled, he had ten more children, and lived 140 more years of his life. The basic theme of this book to accept what is obvious results in fear of God. The clear purpose of this tale is to teach humankind that the true path to salvation and favor from God is an acceptance of whatever miseries and tests placed upon you gaining the virtue of prosperity. We are shown the three wrong stances to take through example of Job's friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zopher, all three of whom place the blame upon Job and presume to know the ways of God. We are also shown that challenging God to prove his ways is unacceptable, we are simple human beings and should not presume to ask God to explain himself to us.
One daughter was killed in an explosion that also took out J.B.’s millions. And the youngest was raped. However, J.B.’s wife, Sarah, was not killed, but instead she left him. In the Bible, Job is confronted by his three friends. His friends encouraged him to turn against God and to curse him, but he refused to do so.
...ade to choose him for the spiritual task. Job realized he had to experience loss and suffering in the name of God to pass the test God bestowed upon him. God stated “Who is that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me... Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth” (p.667) God notified Job he was in no position to question the loss he must undertake in order to complete his mission. Job realized the meaning of his life, when he realized the magnitude God went to convince him of his calling. Job forgave himself for his sacrifices, because he realized it was instructed by God.
The events that destroy Job’s property and children seem to be agency limiting by their very nature. To Job, the entire chain of incidents must have appeared as a string of unfortunate coincidences. There was no element of predictability, no chance for Job to prepare for or thwart Satan’s plan. Job was blindsided. His agency was restricted by his limited knowledge of what was happening around him. The events Satan chose as a means to obliterate Job’s possessions and his children, were random and uncontrollable for Job. There was no room for any expression of agency on his part. Job&am...
The Book of Job is a very complex translation in which two images of evil are presented. Steven Mitchell calls them the Accusing Angel (Accuser) and the Serpent. They are both very powerful and portrayed as supernatural beings. His first reference to the Accusing Angel appears early on, however references throughout the story do not exist. Unlike the Accusing Angel, the Serpent is mentioned throughout the book. Disturbing imagery and ideas from the unnamable voice from the whirlwind help to give the reader an accurate perception of the Serpent. Although the context in which they are presented is different, the way that both are talked about, and defined, are very similar and lead the reader to believe that the two may be the same entity.
It is easy to place the blame on fate or God when one is encumbered by suffering. It is much harder to find meaning in that pain, and harvest it into motivation to move forward and grow from the grief. It is imperative for one to understand one’s suffering as a gateway to new wisdom and development; for without suffering, people cannot find true value in happiness nor can they find actual meaning to their lives. In both Antigone and The Holy Bible there are a plethora of instances that give light to the quintessential role suffering plays in defining life across cultures. The Holy Bible and Sophocles’ Antigone both mirror the dichotomous reality in which society is situated, underlining the necessity of both joy and suffering in the world.
Between a one of god's greatest servants, Job. Before god's treacherous test, Job lives a great life full of blessings. “There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all people of the east” (Job 1: 1-4). “That man was blameless and upright” shows that Job did not harm before being tested, that he was just a simple living human being. “He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels… and very many servants” shows all the blessing that god has given him. We see Job as a great servant to god through the many rewards that he has acquired like his livestock and his sons and daughters. This will soon be challenged by good and evil, God and Satan. The two almighty powers discuss “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side?... Very well, all that he has is in your power”
The story in Job, asks the question. “why do bad things happen to good people?” A frequent answer to that question is that people get what they deserve, although Job did not do anything evil in his lifetime.
Nevertheless, in the Business for the Glory of God: The Bible's Teaching on the Moral Goodness of Business, Dr. ...
The book The Upside Down Kingdom by Donald B. Kraybill does an analysis of the bible in a different approach taken by readers. The main point of the book is to help readers understand Gods kingdom in a world that is turned upside down. Kraybill shows how upside down and radical the kingdom was in the first century Palestine and how it is the same in today’s society. In other words Kraybill illustrated the image that people who are at the top of the pyramids, the wealthy and the powerful, will be at the bottom of the pyramid in Gods kingdom if they are not humbled towards the poor and hungry. The book also clarifies the importance of practicing religious principle through the teachings of Christ in relation to the poor and suffering. In more detail one is not to seek the kingdom of heaven from above but rather find salvation of Christ through active compassion and empathy for those who are in need.
For centuries, we as a people have developed rapidly over time. From the Age of Agriculture, throughout Western Civilization, and even through the Industrial Revolution we have surpassed a great deal of setbacks and triumphs. Within this incessant evolution lies a common theme that serves as the foundation for all that we have become: Work. Most people today view work as the dreadful place we go to every day to exhaust our time, completing mundane tasks for our unsympathetic superiors. Consequently, many individuals fail to realize what the meaning of work really is and why it is so important to our future well-being. In the Bible, instead of viewing work as a squandering burden it depicts work as one of the most valuable parts of God’s creative plan for mankind. Rather than view our work as a hassle with no means to an end, He wants us to embrace it; value it; for everything we do is for Him. In a biblical context, all the work that we do, we do in the name of the Lord, even if it means we have to struggle, and our finishing reward is Heaven.
In any case, acknowledging that Job did not curse him in all of his misfortune, God once again returned to the status of Job's protector, and Job once again became God's favorite servant. God blessed the later part of Job's life with double the fortune he had before and another ten children. Job lived a full life.
...n the world. Job questions what god is really doing for him. Then god talks to job in question form about the creation of the earth. This shows that jobs is very small compared to god, so small that he cannot even being to understand some of the the things god is telling him. Chapter 38 proves to job that humans are far below the power of god then in chapter 42 job quickly shames himself for the previous things he said.
Job was a man of the purest faith. When the world shunned God, Job's faith never declined. Job was a wealthy, handsome man with a beautiful wife and a vast amount of property. At some point in time, Satan made a bet with God that if Job situation was changed, his faith would quickly falter. On this note, God took Job's wealth, his property, his family, and his wife. When times were at their worst, God gave Job pus welts on Job's face, taking his looks. Job's faith, however, did not falter, instead it becamestronger. Job passed the test. God then healed Job, gave him more land, greater wealth , and a better wife. Job was baffled, he wondered the purpose behind his fall and rise. When he asked God this, God replied: "...Because I'm God." That was answer enough.
Why does God allow Satan to cause such tragedy in Job’s life, a man whom God has already acknowledged as “my servant Job, that there is none like on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”(1.8) From the beginning, it is known that Job is in no way deserving of his injustices, so a reason must be given. God gives Job an opportunity to prove that under any circumstances Job will still have faith. This simply a test for Job. The whole Book is a “double” journey for Job -- he shows God his faith and realizes the faith God has that Job will not stray from his path. Job knows deep down that God has not forsaken him.
Satan then challenges God to test Job. Reluctantly, God accepts the challenge. On Earth, Job is stricken with misfortune. All of his animals are either stolen or struck by lightning. All his children died of one tragedy or another.