Job: The Worst Book In The Bible
The Very Definition Of Suffering
Job Curses The Day He was Born.
In this 3 Chapter of Job, he is not sinning for that would be wrong. But instead he wishes he had never been born. Why woul God want ANYONE to feel this way?
(Job 3:4-10)
“May the day of my birth perish,
and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
That day—may it turn to darkness;
may God above not care about it;
may no light shine on it. (how is that not sinning?)
May gloom and utter darkness claim it once more;
may a cloud settle over it;
may blackness overwhelm it. (I am pretty sure that Being Godly doesn't consist of THIS)
That night—may thick darkness seize it;
may it not be included among the days of the year
nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
may no shout of joy be heard in it.
May those who curse days curse that day,
those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.
May its morning stars become dark;
may it wait for daylight in vain
and not see the first rays of dawn,
for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
to hide trouble from my eyes.
Supposedly it says that Job did not sin. But what category is cursing the day you were born? He is being a little overdramtic. He obviously doesn't appriciate God's plan for his life, or why else would he say that? Job feels only turmoil as he says later in the chapter, he says over and over how he wishes he was never born, and he wants to die.
The Story Of Job.
First of all, it is a horrible passage because God does all these horrible things to Job. For what reason? No one knows. Is he testing him or simply torturing him. Let's start at the beginning.
"In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. (Job 1:1-3) Alright there is nothing wrong with this right now, it is justtelling the story of him, so let's move on until we find the gruesome acts done to him by God.
As we read a little further, we see some of the customs Job did. He made regular sacrifices every morning. He held feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. And then When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. This is where he would make burnt offerings early in the morning, he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. (Job 1:4-5)
This is where it get's a little strange. Supposedly Jesus and Satan had a little converstion about agreeing to test Jobs faith in God. For some reason God agreed to this. Startingin verse 6, this is what it says: One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” (even though God apparently knows everything, he stil felt the need to ask that) Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. ”Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? (Is God giving Job over to satan?) There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Satan is saying that, in other words, he is telling God that he will curse you if you take everything he has. Which, makes sense, why love a god who for no other reason but to prove the devil wrong by taking everything he has and makes his life a living hell? Why would God take everything Job has? To prove the devil wrong? That is a pretty immature move to make, but God does just that. Take a look.
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” REALLY? So God listens to satan allowing him to tampure with Job. So this is what the bible says Satan did next, with Gods permission might I add. Why God would allow satan to mess with anyone is beyond me.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” God allowed this to happen.
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” God allowed for many to die, servants and animals, for no other reason but to prove satan wrong. But earlier in the bible God clearly let's us know how much he hates slaves anyways. So this must have not been a huge sacrifice for him.
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” Again... God allowed this.
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” Now God is allowing for Jobs family to die!? Satan is overdoing it as God just stands aside and allows it to happen.
After Satan has his little fun that God allowed, this is how Job responds.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
n all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
I suppose it worked, because his only option to all these tragic events was to fall to his knees and worship the very God that allowed this to happen to him. But that is just not enough for God. Because in the second Chapter of Job it is almost the exact same story, but this time it is a little different.
The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” It satan has more common sense then God. The Lord is mad at satan for doing these things for no reason, when he allowed the very act! What kind of sense does that make. Satan did ask, and God did allow it. So he is just being irrational. But next you see that Satan is playing mind games with the lord because then satan says this. “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Once again, he says this, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” God gives into temptaion! He agrees yet again, But this time he just wants to torture poor Job as long as he spares his life. Even though before in chapter one he told satan not to lay a finger on Job, and now he wants to do just that. Well, ask and you shall recieve am I right?
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Let me get this straight, God allowed Satan do inflict pain on job, not just normal ain, but sore all over his body. Why would God allow that for no other reason but to prove Satan wrong? And Job is so strong in his faith that he actaully believes that God is not only good, but causes trouble. At least his wife has some common sense.
But at least Job did not sin. That is all god wanted. Does that seem like a God you would want to worship? One who would purposely inflict pain on someone for no reason?
Let's See How "Just" God really is.
The meaning of the way god uses the word "Just" is this, "given or awarded rightly; deserved, as a sentence, punishment, or reward: a just penalty. So basically God is a just God, in giving people what they deserve... Good or bad.
“Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
“For anger slays the foolish man,
And jealousy kills the simple.
“I have seen the foolish taking root,
And I cursed his abode immediately.
“His sons are far from safety,
They are even [a]oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
“His harvest the hungry devour
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the schemer is eager for their wealth.
“For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
For man is born for trouble, <<< Man is born for trouble? WHAT??
As sparks fly upward.
Is this the word of God? Sounds horrible. In verse 18 it says righ there, "For He inflicts pain, and gives relief. In other words, god purposely inflicts pain, but don't worry, he will relieve you of the pain he gave you, after you suffer a bit.