NJ Bible: Intro to Job, Job 1-14, 38-42

The book of Job focuses on questioning. The story evolves around Job who is loyal and does everything in his power and will to serve God. Yet, he somehow has his money and property all taken from him. This story is rather intriguing because it is typical in the bible for people to be rewarded for their actions, rather than punished. I enjoyed the introduction and found it particularly interesting when it said “This is the doctrine, therefore, on which the teaching of wisdom is based, maintaining, as it does, that the world is ruled by a God who is just and wise. In its support it claims experience, despite the fact that experience often contradicts it. This contradiction is dramatically demonstrated in the Book of Job where the three friends defend the traditional thesis. But the problems of the virtuous in affliction there is no intellectually satisfactory answer as long as we hold the theory of adequate retribution on earth; unquestioning faith in God is the only recourse.” Throughout that long quote, I think that the most important part is the last sentence: “there is no intellectually satisfactory answer as long as we hold the theory of adequate retribution on earth; unquestioning faith in God is the only recourse.” I think that this is the most important part because it holds that as long as we don’t ask questions, everything will be alright. It’s simply having faith in God and that is what Christianity is all about. Studying the Catholic tradition and bible may be scholarly, but if one goes searching for an academic or intellectual hard answer to the presence and actions of God, it certainly won’t be found.

Throughout the reading, it is evident that God is extremely powerful and not to be messed with. In his relationship, God is obviously the superior. It is shown in Job 1 when Satan tests Job. Job has his oxen stolen by Sabaeans, his sheep were burnt by fire from the sky, and his sons and daughters killed by the corners of their house (Job 1:13-19). This is the lesson that in life, bad things can indeed happen to good people. It is just the reality at times.

Another example if a lesson is in chapter 13. “I am taking my life in my hands, let him kill me if he will; I have no other hope than to justify my conduct in his eyes. And this is what will save me for the wicked would not dare to appear before him” (Job 13: 14-16). These lines are crucial because they show putting your faith in God. He acknowledges that even when things aren’t going well, and we’re suffering, that we cannot ever loose our faith in the lord. God already has our lives planned out, we don’t need to justify or exclude our actions, he is already on top of that. Job teaches us to never lose faith because it is one of the strongest things in our world.