Why do the Righteous suffer according to the Book of Job?

Why do the Righteous and the Innocent Suffer? Bible Study on the Book of Job

Brief Introduction

When we hear about the Book of Job, we feel uncomfortable, because this book arouses uneasiness, fear and even confusion in most of us.

This happens because we either heard and retained a wrong interpretation, or we do not have the knowledge to correctly interpret words and concepts that belong to a different culture from times past.

So, in order to fully comprehend the Book of Job, we need to define words and explain Biblical concepts that most people are not familiar with, and this requires a thorough step by step approach.

In this study, we will explore in depth and analyze the story of Job.

We encourage you to read all articles related to this topic and follow our breadcrumbs in the recommended order until the end.

For years, this book has been presented as obscure, mysterious and incomprehensible, but at the end of this comprehensive study, you will have a full understanding of the story of Job.

You will find the answers you are looking for and discover the truth about the mystery hidden behind this book.

You will also realize that Job speaks to us from the past about something essential and vital for us today and in the near future.

In this time and age, this is a message more urgent than ever. It is imperative that we understand the meaning of this story, so let's get started.

We know that Job was faithful to God and suffered a lot. So, the question arises: Why did God allow Job to suffer?

Why Did God Allow Job To Suffer?

To answer this question we must approach the Book of Job with a clear mind, free from any preconceptions we may have about this story, which are the result of incorrect teachings and misinterpretations that are definitely not in line with the Bible.

Although it has never been officially stated, many false doctrines have stemmed from this book and all they have done is obscure the Truth and destroy it, rather than shed light on this story and the Word of God.

So, arm yourself with patience, put aside your fears and read this study all the way to the end and you will see that, with an accurate analysis of the text, all doubts, perplexities and fears will dissolve.

Historical Background - Who Wrote The Book Of Job And When?

It is commonly believed that Job was a contemporary of Abraham, but we do not know exactly who wrote the Book of Job.

Bible scholars and historians attribute this text to various authors: some say that Job himself wrote it, others think it was written by Elihu, the prophet of God who intervenes in the story in chapter 32, others think Moses wrote it.

One thing is certain: Job lived long before the descendants of Abraham became a nation, as in one verse it is clearly stated that he was the only one on earth to follow and serve God in his days.

Job 1:8 - "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?"

Why Does The Book Of Job Awaken So Much Uneasiness And Confusion?

Starting from the first verse of chapter 1 of the Book of Job, as we have just seen, Job is presented as a righteous man, who loves and fears God and flees from evil. This view of Job being an upright man is shared and confirmed by the prophet Ezekiel, as well.

Ezekiel 14:14 - "'Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness', says the Lord GOD."

And yet, from verse 6 to verse 12 of chapter 1 and from verse 1 to verse 7 of chapter 2, something strange occurs.

The passage introduces a conversation between "God and satan" in the presence of the "sons of God".

During this conversation, it appears that satan instigates God, in a sort of bet, to make Job - God's righteous servant - suffer for the sole purpose of proving to Him that if the Lord took away every possession and every blessing, Job would curse Him and stop serving Him.

And right here the first problem with the passage arises.

When you continue reading the story, you do so with a growing sense of annoyance and uneasiness - there's no point in denying it. If God tolerated what "a certain satan" suggests, we wouldn't be able to trust God, would we?

That's why this book makes us jump off our chairs, it bothers us and even makes us angry. And, even worse, it makes us feel like we want to close the book and forget about it.

But then, in the name of devotion to our faith, after a while, we put all these mixed feelings aside and we submit to this sad story. We accept the common interpretations that are presented to us as true and indisputable, and end up resenting God due to lack of true knowledge and understanding.

When we come across issues such as this, we must use common sense and logic, and analyze everything in detail, in light of the whole Bible, leaving no stone unturned.

So, let's start by defining words through the original language in which the Bible was written, and through the biblical speech, jargon and figurative language that was in use at that time.

Who Is "Satan" Who Presents Himself Before God In Job 1:6?

Job 1:6 - "Now there was a day when the sons of God (Elohim) came to present themselves before the Lord (YHWH), and satan also came among them."

We know from our article on satan, that "satan" is a Hebrew word used to indicate an enemy, an adversary, so it is generally used in the Bible to describe the concept of an adversary of God.

By definition, we can say that satan represents evil, sin, that which is against God, when used figuratively, and does not refer to a specific being, such as a rebellious angel, but to a role.

As such, the word satan, in essence, refers to feelings or inner thoughts in opposition to God, when the word is used in a figurative sense.

When the word is used in a literal sense, it refers to an individual who is operating in this role of opposition to God. Those who work against God and his ministers, work for satan, in an allegorical sense. In other words, they are the opponents, adversaries and enemies of God.

Next, we'll see who the "sons of God" or "sons of Elohim" are.

This is PART 1 of a study on the Book of Job.

We encourage you to follow our breadcrumbs in the recommended order and read the next article Who are the Sons of God in the Book of Job? to fully comprehend this story.