Our Suffering is Still Under God's Control

This content was excerpted from the Storyteller Job Bible study week one.

There was a man in the country of Uz named Job. He was a man of complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. His estate included seven thousand sheep and goats, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east. His sons used to take turns having banquets at their homes. They would send an invitation to their three sisters to eat and drink with them. Whenever a round of banqueting was over, Job would send for his children and purify them, rising early in the morning to of­fer burnt of­ferings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned, having cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice. 

These verses introduce us to Job in a straightforward way, describing his impeccable character and great prosperity. Together, these formed Job’s reputation as “the greatest man among all the people of the east” (v. 3). Job’s godly character provides context for the events that follow. Job was righteous man with “complete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil” (v. 1). This does not mean Job never did anything wrong but rather that he honored God both by what he did (he feared God) and what he avoided (he turned away from evil). Job also flourished according to the standards of his time. He had seven sons and three daughters, totaling ten children. In his culture, each of these numbers signified wholeness and blessing. In a time when wealth was measured by property, Job owned thousands of cattle, many acres of land, and employed many servants to take care of his estate. Beyond his own character, Job was also committed to his family and fulfilled the role of a priest for them, purifying them and offering sacrifices to God to atone for their sins. The author offers the editorial comment, “This was Job’s regular practice” (v. 5). Job sought God because it was who he was. He cultivated a life of wisdom that recognized God as the source of all his blessings. 

We’re taken from the introduction of Job to an apparently routine council in heaven where the sons of God were presenting themselves to Him. We are told that “Satan also came with them” (v. 6). This conversation between God and Satan bridges the introduction of the righteous man Job and the tragedy that will befall him. From this conversation, we glean several important details that are helpful to remember moving forward. Job and his friends (we’ll meet them later) had no knowledge of these conversations. As disaster unfolds for Job, we, the readers, know something Job doesn’t: Nothing that happens has taken place outside of God’s control.

This is an intentional dramatic irony. Later, while Job and his friends debate, we have a perspective they don’t. The same is true in all our suffering: No matter what befalls us, God always has a perspective on our suffering that we don’t. We are shown that God’s estimation of Job in verse 8 matches the description of Job in verse 1. Job was truly a righteous man, despite what happened to him and despite what people would say about him. When Job attested to his innocence, he was correct in doing so. While some suffering is the natural consequences of sin, suffering is not always attached to specific sin. Much of the difficulty we encounter comes because we live in a world that has been broken by sin. Also, notice Satan’s control is limited. In their conversation, God is the first and the last to speak. Satan is only free to respond, and he can only take what God allows. When we’re hit with suffering, there’s never a point at which we’re outside of God’s control. This can seem a cold comfort to our souls, but no matter what happens, we can always look to God in our hurt because He is ultimately in control. This is why Job called out to Him. Instead of cursing God, Job acknowledged God’s sovereign control and blessed His name. Job did not curse the people and events that took his home, family, and livelihood. Instead, he embraced God. He accepted the pain of suffering and the uncertainty of life with the certainty that there is a God in heaven who heard him.