Considering Job’s Mysterious Friend & Suffering

The cycle of speeches between Job and his 3 friends has finished with Job’s final speech.  Their rather limited theological views couldn’t answer Job’s questions.  They ended up condemning Job.

There is one telling statement about Job in 32:1- “because he was righteous in his own eyes.”

Job shared their faulty theology.  Since he was certain he had not sinned, he thought he was suffering unjustly.  This book exists, in part, to let us know people suffer for a number of reasons, all under the soveriegnty of God.  It rebukes our presumption- but I get ahead of myself.

Elihu appears out of nowhere.  There is no prior indication that he was there.  And he isn’t mentioned at the end of the book either.  This has led some to speculate that Elihu is a later addition.  But the whole book is mysterious- suffering often doesn’t make sense.  So why should we expect the book to tie up all the loose ends.

Elihu’s contribution seems to be that suffering is a warning from God.  Job is being warned that he is in danger of departing from God.  He spends lots of time saying not much of anything.

Before we get to God’s response and the conclusion, I thought I should summarize the various reasons people suffer.  Some of those are found in this book, and some of them aren’t.  These are helpful to keep in mind when we suffer, and when people we counsel (formally or informally) are suffering.

1. Our suffering is under the sovereignty of God.  This is the one consistent message of the book, and it is true.  Satan must seek God’s permission, and God held the Chaldeans and Sabeans at bay.
2. Sometimes we suffer to test us.  This is why God permitted Job to suffer.  He knew Job would pass the test (as a result of sustaining grace), though Job didn’t always suffer well.
3. Sometimes we suffer because Satan wishes to destroy us.  Satan’s purpose in suffering is always different than God’s.  Job teaches “concurrence”- two or more parties willing the same action but for different reasons.  Similarly, in 2 Cor. 12 God’s purpose in the thorn was to humble Paul.  Satan’s would be to debilitate Paul and hinder his ministry.
4. Sometimes we suffer because of the sin of others.  Some of Job’s suffering was due to the actions of the Chaldeans and Sabeans- more concurrence.  God will hold them accountable.  There really are victims in our world, and they need to be treated as such w/out resorting to victimization (we hold them responsible for their response to that suffering- they aren’t off the hook because they suffered).
5. Sometimes we suffer because we live in a fallen world, which groans until the day of its redemption when Jesus returns (Romans 8).  The wind and hail storms, though permitted by God and used by Satan, are a normal part of this fallen world (as one who lived in central Florida in 2004).  We are not exempt from the extremes resulting for Adam’s disobedience.
6. Sometimes people suffer was a warning of the Judgment.  This is intended to prompt repentance.  Elihu speaks some truth.  And the book of Job is partially intended to lead us to repentance when we see how powerful and just God is.
7. Sometimes we suffer “corrective instruction”, often translated discipline.  It is not punishment, but meant to shape our future character (Heb. 12).  We are suffering to be conformed more into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:28-9).  Often it is not clear to us what God is trying to teach us at the time of the lesson.
8. Sometimes we suffer for the benefit of others.  Paul suffered greatly for the spread of the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11 & Colossians 1:24).  We also see this in the book of Ruth.  There can be a redemptive aspect to suffering.  People either benefit directly or indirectly.  They can benefit because we suffer for them, or because they watch us suffer gracefully, thereby building their faith.
9. Sometimes we do suffer for our sin.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, this is a clear connection.  A habitual drunk has numerous health problems (as do gluttons).  As I said, the mistake of Job and his first 3 friends was to think this was the whole deal.

As I read Job, I am reminded that part of the point of Job is that we often do not know why we suffer.  Job never knew he was being tested.  Like Job we need to give up our demand for an explanation.  Rather than demand that our lives make sense, we have to trust in His goodness and power.  As my wife and I continue to walk through our own difficult time together, none of it makes much sense to us.  We can either grow bitter because God doesn’t clue us in, or we can grow in trust.  After all, will not the Judge of the earth do right?  Of course He will- I have His promise in Christ Jesus.