Passing the test — Insights from Job

16 min readNov 23, 2017

Reading the book of Job shatters your theology, destroys your judgments about others, wrenches your heart, disturbs your mind and shakes up your life. If you’ve seriously read the book of Job, you’ll know what I mean.

My mum loves the Lord and the Bible. But she tells me that she is sometimes afraid to read the book of Job. On the contrary, I love the book of Job. Reading Job sends shivers down my spine and shakes my world — I love it. I love what the Word of God does to me and in me. But I know very well what my mum is talking about.

Treading carefully

I remember reading Philip Yancey’s “Disappointment with God” seven years ago. Yancey talks about a young seminary student — Richard — who’d written a wonderful commentary on the book of Job for which Yancey had no trouble giving a recommendation. Yet, few weeks before the young man’s work was supposed to hit the bookshelves, the young man met Philip and apologized to him, confessing that he’d given up on God. Full Stop. A series of tragic events shook Richard’s faith — and it was gone. Richard’s parents had divorced despite his attempts to help make peace; a promising employer had gone back on their promise — leaving him jobless and with debts; and his fiancé had left him. And several unanswered prayers and tough events he began to doubt the contents of his theology degree. All that he once held dear was gone. “God turned up for Job, but not for me”, he declared and left Philip Yancey. In an attempt to try to put things into perspective and seek answers to tough questions of disappointment, Philip took a short vacation to a secluded place and in two weeks’ time, he read the Bible — cover to cover. And Yancey ended up writing “Disappointment with God” — which he dedicated to Richard. Richard was still an unbeliever (at the time Philip Yancey’s book was published). I do not know where he is now. But here’s one of the most important lessons I learned from the whole thing (though it is not the main purpose of Philip writing that book). Yancey makes a point that Richard’s book on Job was “a potent warning against writing too hastily on matters of faith”. I’ll never forget this. Anyone can take passages of Scripture and preach powerfully or write eloquently — the Bible warns us strongly against this.

James 3:1–2 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. [ESV]

Knowing fully well I’m a fragile sinner, I’ll humbly share few insights we may glean from the book of Job. I’m weak, fragile and vulnerable — nowhere near Job. But I have something (rather, Someone) Job did not have — Christ, seated at the right hand of the Father. In His mercy, I write. In His mercy, I stand.

Grasping the intensity

My words will definitely fail to describe what Job went through. To try and help us grasp the intensity of Job’s suffering, let me take you on a journey of contemplation — maybe we’ll get closer to understanding it. This might be harsh. Please pardon me for this. What if all the events that befell Richard befell you? Think of one thing that is sustaining you right now — your job. Suppose you lose it — in such a bad way that you can’t get another one — with nothing in sight. What will happen to you and your family? What if they leave you seeing that you can’t sustain them anymore? I know it is cruel to even contemplate these things. But it does not end here for Job. What if in another week’s time, you are suddenly stuck with cancer or some incurable disease? Now you have no one to take care of you. Your best friends come one by one — only to judge and falsely accuse you for your “mistakes”, “bad decisions” and “immoral dealings”. Let me pause here. Now that your mind is in Job’s shoes, let’s try to reason together and learn.

“Just kill me”

There’s one thing Job wanted at this point and rightly so — death. I’m sure anyone would choose death over unceasing, excruciating, soul-wrenching pain — if given the option.

Job 3:20–22 “Why does God give light [life] to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter, to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures, who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave? [NET]
Job 6:8–9 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! [ESV]

Job might have contemplated suicide. Who knows? We are not told. Job wanted God to finish him off because the pain was intense — it was going out of hand. Let us not be too quick to judge Job for his request. See why he makes this request:

Job 6:10 [NET] Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
Job 6:8–13 [The Message Bible] Let God step on me — squash me like a bug and be done with me for good. I’d at least have the satisfaction of not having blasphemed the Holy God, before being pressed past the limits.

Job wanted to die before he would cross the limits of pain and deny God. He wanted to die “in the faith” — while he had proclaimed the Truth about God without concealing it. Even in the midst of such intense pain and agony, Job considered his faith more precious that life. He strongly desired that his life would be taken away, but not his faith. How do we respond during times of suffering? Are we too quick to quit or complain? Well, Job’s faith has a lot to teach us.

Loss of purpose

Job 3:23 [NET] Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?
Job 3:20–23 [The Message Bible]…what’s the point of life when it doesn’t make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning

Job had a stronger sense of purpose, meaning and satisfaction in life as long as he had children, health and wealth. But now, his life was meaningless — it seemed to be. At the face of pain, disappointment and suffering, life would seem meaningless for you and me because our plans, hopes and expectations are crushed. Some of you might have a plan B or a plan C. But for Job, everything was gone — there was absolutely nothing left! Even though Job lamented the darkness surrounding him, he looked up to God and did not quit. He knew that life’s meaning and purpose are hidden in God alone — he cried out to God and not for restoration of wealth or health. Though he raised questions, he found the grace to worship.

Job 1:20–21 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” [ESV]

Job knew the One in whom his life’s purpose and meaning was bound. Do we realize that? Or are we looking for meaning, purpose and satisfaction in worldly power, possessions and passions? If that is the case, we’re vulnerable — if those things are taken away, our faith will falter. Let us examine our hearts in the Light of God’s Word to see where we truly find meaning, purpose and satisfaction.

Integrity or dignity?

Job 29:25–30:1 I chose their way and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners. “But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock. [ESV]

See the utter change in Job’s situation. In chapter 29 to 30, Job bemoans the loss of his dignity — people who once held him in honour now treated him like a dog after his severe ordeal. Yet he had been sincere toward God. In chapters 31 and 32, we see Job describing in detail as to how sincerely he had feared and obeyed God, holding unswervingly to His ways. Sometimes, despite our sincere commitment toward God, God will allow trials that will shatter our dignity. This is something too hard for me to grapple with. This is true. It happened to Job, Joseph and Jesus. Yes, Jesus Himself was shamefully treated, beaten and crucified like a criminal. Something along similar lines can happen to you and me also. Even many sensible people commit suicide, unable to bear the loss of dignity or respect. This is no light thing. How did Job handle this?

First, Job expressed his pain openly before God. He is severely appalled at the way God allowed things to happen in his life — he let God know it.

Job 30:19–21 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes. I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. [ESV]

We too must pour out our feelings openly before God — this is crucial. The Psalmists did this frequently, expressing how much shame they’ve endured — sometimes because of sin and sometimes despite being blameless. Whatever the case be, we must learn to be honest with God about our feelings. Unless we learn this, we can go in no good direction.

Second, we’ll do well to note that Job didn’t want to let go of his integrity. This overwhelming emotional flood did not drown Job because his integrity was ultimately more important to him than his dignity. Those who idolize their dignity cannot withstand such trials or treasure God deeply. We must realize that it is God who enables us to stand tall and be faithful — wherever we may be in this world — and we must humbly look to His Grace alone to find our worth and stay obedient to His commands. If we don’t, we’ll start idolizing ourselves or become proud and hypocritical.

Getting things right

We just saw that for Job, his faith was more important than life; his God, more precious than wealth or health; and integrity, more valuable than dignity. Job also had a deeper understanding of man’s heart and God’s ways. He was far more acquainted with reality that his friends were. Here’s how:

1. Job understood the depth of human depravity. His conscience was clear. Yet he acknowledged that he could not stand before God (Job 9:2–15). He knew how depraved a man’s heart is, despite his best attempts to do good (Job 10:15). His friends didn’t recognize this. They simply classified men as “good” or “bad” based on actions. This simplistic reduction does not fit reality as we see and experience it. Job’s friends’ understanding was shallow. In reality, our hearts are incomprehensibly depraved and deeply inclined toward evil. Job knew it very well. Now, why is this important?

i. If we don’t understand the depraved nature of human heart, we cannot know the power of evil. We’ll be insensitive to sin. Job was sensitive to sin because of this understanding.

ii. Unless we understand the gravity of depravity, we cannot learn to let go of ourselves and take hold of God’s righteousness and His Spirit’s power to overcome sin. We’ll either fail to overcome sin or make legal fixes to satisfy our consciences.

2. Job confessed his ignorance of God’s ways. His friends made the mistake of reducing God to the logical judgments of their limited minds. Job didn’t fall into that trap (Job 9:22–24). Job’s friends were so confident that “Good will always be rewarded and bad will always be punished — here in this world”. Job refused to accept their logical reduction of God’s ways of dealing with humans. Job was practical and right — God doesn’t confront every sinful act. Neither do good deeds get rewarded all the time. When we don’t reduce God thus,

i. We’ll be humble and seek to know and understand God more.

ii. We’ll judge ourselves rightly. We won’t mistake good external circumstances for God’s approval or suffering for God’s judgment.

iii. We’ll not judge others unnecessarily. Or we’ll judge others slowly, rightly, carefully and mercifully even if we had to.

3. Job knew that God is not like us and that He is a different Being altogether. He saw the huge chasm that is between us and God and longed for the gap to be bridged.

Job 9:32–35 For he [God] is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment. Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both, who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid. Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me. [NET]

In Christ alone — who is fully God and fully man — it is done.

1 Timothy 2:5–6 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. [NET]

The disappointed young man (Richard) whom Yancey talks about, wanted God to turn up personally and answer him. When that didn’t happen, the young man gave up on God. I firmly believe that God turned up personally and answered Job in the end because Job did not have any mediator between God and Man. But we have Jesus Christ now. We are not called to imitate Job’s prayers — asking God to appear personally and answer us. We must recognize how Job’s request is met in Christ and learn to cling to Christ and follow Him. I believe things would have been different for Richard, had he truly known Christ. Yet, I can’t judge. I can only ponder what went wrong and pray that He would find Jesus again.

Having a right understanding of reality helps us stand firm at the point of trial — like Job did. This includes a right understanding of both ourselves and God. Otherwise we’ll be disillusioned with life and God, wanting to give up our faith. How well do we know ourselves? Do we paint a pretty picture of ourselves or do we truly understand how sinful we are before God? How well do we know God and His ways? Do we reduce Him according to our own limited minds or do we seek to understand Him as He really is?

Blaming God?

Job’s faith, purpose, priority and understanding of reality were point on. Yet, he struggled to stand. He even blamed God for all his troubles. How do we understand this?

Job 30:21–22 You [God] have turned cruel to me [Job]; with the might of your hand you persecute me. You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm. [ESV]

Is it alright to blame God? Certain things have happened to me which I wish God had stopped — I believe He had the power to. Why then did God allow such things to happen? You might have similar questions. Job had lots. And he asked them. Jesus Himself cried out, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”. There are ample passages in the Bible that teach us not to suppress the honest cries of the heart.

Jon Bloom, co-founder of Desiring God, writing about Job and his friends, tells that a godly counsellor must “discern whether angry or exasperated or despairing words are coming from an afflicted person’s soul-core (their deeply held, life-governing beliefs) or from their soul-sore (a flaring pain temporarily distorting a person’s perspective). There is a huge and important difference.”

Many of Job’s cries similar to the accusation above (Job 30:21–22) come from his “soul-sore”. They are temporary shrieks of pain and not statements of faith. I firmly believe that God does not discourage us from expressing our “soul-sores”. Our cries will draw us closer to Him and not away from Him. However, expressing it is only half of the process. It is important that we don’t get stuck there endlessly in an emotional whirlpool but that we move on to probe further and ask the right questions — ones that will help us move forward in the right direction. And Job did that. Let’s try to learn from Job’s questions.

The big questions

First, Job wondered if there’s life after death. Job did not stop with a death-wish. If he had stopped there, he might have reasoned along those lines and settled for a suicide. Rather, he asked a powerful question. A question that made him wait in hope without giving up.

Job 14:14–15 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come. 15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands. [ESV]

Job did not have the answer. But in Christ — because of His death and resurrection — we are given the hope of eternal life. Do we long for it and pursue it diligently and patiently? Or do we neglect the revelation and constantly look down?

Second, Job longed to be reconciled with God. He wanted God to be for him and not against him. He knew what the fall had done to man. He recognized his depraved condition despite his best attempts to please God. He knew that all mankind was against God. And he longed for peace with His Creator and forgiveness that would somehow deal with his depravity and cleanse his conscience, enabling him to approach God without guilt.

Job 14:16–17 ESV For then you [God] would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin; 17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.

This too, we have in Christ. In Christ, we are forgiven, justified and reconciled — we have peace and joyful fellowship with God. Because of what Jesus did, God is for us and not against us. Even more, we are called His children!

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [NET]
1 John 3:1 See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children… [NET]

O what blessed privilege we have in this world! Let us learn to treasure Christ all the more!

Third, Job wanted justice — final justice. He couldn’t stand the wicked getting away and the righteous, suffering. He wondered if there would be some kind of Judgment where God would settle scores.

Job 21:7–9 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. [ESV]
Job 24:1 “Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? [ESV]

In Christ, we can be assured that justice will be done.

2 Timothy 4:1 …Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [NET]

Jesus will come again to judge all mankind. Those who try to evade justice in this world are living in a world of illusion — believers and unbelievers alike. The tables will be turned and all scores will be settled on the Day of the Lord.

All that we need — all that Job cried out for in the midst of his suffering — we have in Jesus, the Lamb of God. I’m not sure we fully realize how privileged we are to live in a time such as this! However, having the Answer is not everything.

Living out the answers

Job exposed the hypocrisy of his friends’ answers. Notice how he sarcastically derides the folly of their theology:

Job 26:3 How you have counseled him who has no wisdom, and plentifully declared sound knowledge! [ESV]

And openly declares the folly of their understanding of reality

Job 21:34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” [ESV]

And goes on to stand for what he firmly believes:

Job 27:4–5 my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. [ESV]

After listening to all his friends’ nonsense, Job wonders where wisdom is found (Job 28) and finally utters these precious lines:

Job 28:28 And he [God] said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” [ESV]

Job is simply telling his friends, “All your theology is useless! Real wisdom is fearing God and turning away from evil no matter what happens in life — good or bad!“. How true and poignant his words are! All our theology and knowledge of God are useless if we cannot fear God and say “no” to sin in our daily lives — irrespective of whether we get rewarded in this life or not. Our reward is Christ Himself and our Hope is in the world to come and our purpose is to live for God’s Glory. Also, now that we have Jesus Christ, the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help, we are all the more accountable. And finally, God commended Job for his words:

Job 42:7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. [ESV]

The sum of the matter

How we live is the biggest test of our theology or spirituality or knowledge of God — whatever you call it. Don’t look at your blessings (belongings?) and mistake it for God’s approval of your sinful life. Job trusted in God and stood firm in the Truth, no matter what the cost.

Job 23:10 But he [God] knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. [ESV]

Job passed the test as he hoped. Will we pass the storms of life and stand firm till the end as Job did?

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [ESV]
Jude 1:24–25 Now to him [God] who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. [ESV]

I pray that by God’s Grace, you and I would.

Originally published at inkandtruth.com on November 23, 2017.