The Tribulations of Job
The Tribulations of Job
Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at the research that goes into making each scene of iBIBLE. Let's take a look at the tribulations of Job.
As the book of Job opens, we see a “blameless and upright man, one who feared God, and turned away from evil.” If suffering is intended as a punishment for evil, Job would not be a recipient. The first chapter of Job is not even finished when Job’s calamity begins.
Within the realm of a single day, all Job had was in ruins and his world thrown upside down. His ten children and most of his servants were dead. His 11,000 head of livestock, gone. Yet, in all of this, Job’s integrity did not fail him.
If we look to the world around us to find answers, our conclusions are often wrong.
If we look to the world around us to find answers, our conclusions are often wrong. This is not the place for answers. The book of Job takes us to the place where answers are given and we can catch a glimpse into Heaven to better understand the events we may not comprehend with our earthly perspective.
In last week’s post, we focused on the first conversation between God and Satan. We saw where Satan threw a challenge down before God. God was pleased with Job, and Satan was clearly not impressed. In fact, Satan said the only reason Job feared God is so he could be wealthy, healthy, and prosperous.
Is Satan right? Will Job show he values what he has been given more than God Himself?
Job responded with reverence to God in the face of losing all he had, including his children. Satan was proved wrong. Again, God lifted up Job before Satan, and Satan, again, challenged the value of God in the heart of Job. He said Job only worshipped God because he had his health. So, God allowed Satan to attack Job physically.
And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head." (Job 2:6-7)
There was no rest, no respite, and no way to ease the suffering, except to “curse God and die”, as Job’s wife suggested. Job’s pain was unbearable. Sores covered his entire body. He tried, unsuccessfully, to scrape them off with a piece of broken pottery. There was no rest from the torment. Job described his own horrifying condition:
My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh (Job 7:5).
Remember Satan’s bold statement to God?
But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face (Job 2:5).
But Job knew God. Sitting in a pile of ashes, covered in boils, Job made the statement that still echo to this day:
Though he slay me, I will hope in him (Job 13:15).
Can you envision the scene in Heaven as God, Satan, and millions of angels awaited Job’s response? Can you imagine the moment Satan realized that he was wrong, and that God’s place in the heart of Job was beyond all the treasures on earth and even Job’s own well-being?
Sometimes the answers to what is going on in this world, cannot be found in this world. True answers are from Heaven.
Where shall wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know the way to it,
and it is not found in the land of the living . . .
God understands the way to it,
and he knows its place (Job 28:12–13, 23).
As we go through producing the book of Job in iBIBLE, we grow to appreciate the magnificence of God’s Word. We are reminded that the answers to the suffering of this world are not found here on Earth. They are to be sought in Heaven where God is always in control of the lives of those He has called His own.
It is easy to set aside the Old Testament and the books of the Bible that may be more difficult to read or understand, or, in some cases, even more difficult to accept as we face our own trails and tribulations. However, the biblical narrative, including the events that may be more difficult to understand, weave a beautiful tapestry of God’s plan to restore and redeem His perfect creation!
The biblical narrative, including the events that may be more difficult to understand, weave a beautiful tapestry of God’s plan to restore and redeem His perfect creation!
As we continue to work on iBIBLE, we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help us bring all the truths in the Scriptures to their proper portrayal. Thank you for helping RevelationMedia bring iBIBLE to the world. This is a God-sized project, and it is only possible with the support of individuals and families like you.
