Part 2: Job and Justice
If God is good and loving, why does he allow suffering in the world? If God is omnipresent and all-knowing, why does it feel like He’s far from me or that He is quiet? If God is almighty and powerful, why does he not heal all those who are infected with COVID-19? If you have struggled with questions like these, you are not alone.
We continue our walk through the Bible and today we look at disease and pain in the book of Job. It is not one of the easiest books to read, not simply just because it is extremely sombre, but also because of its complex writing. Most of it is poetry and wisdom literature, sandwiched between historical narrative at the beginning and end of the book. We are not entirely sure of where it fits into the timeline of the Bible or who authored it, and in that way, it helps us to simply draw into Job’s world and emotions, without any context, safe for it being in the Old Testament.
Chapter one immediately introduces us to Job: a rich man in the land of Uz, "who was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil" (1:1 - KJV). He had seven sons, three daughters and an incredible amount of cattle and servants (1:2-3).
In verse six the location shifts to Heaven where God is meeting with the “sons of God”. He is speaking about his servant, Job, who is upright and God-fearing. Satan is also amongst those assembled. His title can be translated to mean “the Adversary” or “the Accuser” and that is exactly what he does: "Doth Job fear God for nought?" (1:9) The Accuser thought that the only reason why Job feared God was because of his prosperity; take that away and Job will fear the Lord no more. God answered in the following way: "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand" (1:12). Only spare Job’s life.
Almost instantly, Job’s world came crashing down. In verses 13-17 we read of messenger upon messenger who comes to bear terrible news: all of his cattle have been taken, most of his servants have been killed, and all of his children died when the roof collapsed on them. To make matters worse, Job is struck "with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown"(2:7). We are uncertain of the exact disease inflicted, but it sounds an awful lot like the leprosy of Leviticus.
While Job is scraping his wounds in what we would call a rubbish yard today, his wife says that he should simply curse God and die, to which Job responds: "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (2:10). That is a scary thought indeed...
News of the sorrow that had befallen Job has spread, and three of his friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) decide to visit him to offer their wisdom and condolences (2:11). When they arrive, they almost don't recognise Job, and are so saddened that the next seven days and nights are spent in complete and utter silence. Imagine that for a moment. So much despair and misery, that nothing could be said. No words could comfort.
On the 8th day, Job breaks the silence and curses the day he was born (3:1). He feels that death would have been more palatable than the pain he is in. Chapters 4 to 37 consist of back and forth conversation between Job and his friends on why this misery had befallen him. At first, it might seem like his friends were very wise, but a closer look would reveal that they were very much like the ‘prosperity-gospel’ preachers of today - those who trust and believe in God, will always prosper, be in good health and have many material blessings. Obviously, that means that Job is a wicked man and that God is punishing him through this calamity. Job disagrees with them - sometimes the wicked prospers and the God-fearing are struck with suffering. And so it goes on.
After their infinite debating, Job grows weary and demands that God answer him directly: "Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book." (31:35) Does God tell him about his conversation with Satan? Does God tell him that he allowed the Accuser to do this to him? No. But God answers him nonetheless.
From chapter 38-39 God explains to Job in beautiful poetry the immense detail of what happens in his universe:
"By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?" 38:24-27
What is God’s purpose with these words? To remind Job who God is, and to remind Job who Job is. You are not God. You do not have the answers to everything. You have to trust me. Job is humbled and repents:
"I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee...therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." 42:2-6
We might never know exactly why the Coronavirus came when it did. We might never know why some died of it and others were spared. But what we do know is that God is still in control. He is still sovereign. He is still both a loving and righteous God. He is still the King And Ruler of the universe, and we can look forward to spending eternity with Jesus, our Redeemer, in a perfect, beautiful and restored creation. And if we know that, we know enough. The author, C.S. Lewis, said the following: “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”
How do we share this with others? How do we bring comfort to the desolate? How do we bring peace to the fearful? Apart from those infected with COVID-19, many people have fallen into depression and consuming anxiety in these times. How can we be spotlights pointing to Jesus in a world that has turned dark?
Ever heard of the saying “silence is golden”? The New Bible Commentary says “the book of Job is an eloquent commentary on the inadequacy of the human mind to reduce the complexity of the problem of suffering to some consistent pattern. It is a book where silent men accomplish more than speaking men...The word of man is unable to penetrate the darkness of Job’s mind; the Word of God brings abiding light.”
Stop trying to explain why bad things happen. You are not God. Be a listening ear to the weary. Be a helping hand to the needy. If you have to, sit in utter silence for seven days and seven nights, like Job’s friends did, and if you have to speak, point your spotlight to Jesus on the cross. He Himself is the Answer.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4 KJV
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10 KJV
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 KJV
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 KJV
“But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 KJV
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 KJV
“Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:9-11 KJV
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 KJV
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."