In order to understand the Book of Job, we must first examine the way the Bible is constructed. The Bible is not a single book. Rather, the Bible is a library filled with books written by many authors from different time periods and in different genres of literature. Within this collection we find historical narratives, prophecies, and poetry.  

The Book of Job falls within the category which we refer to as “wisdom literature”. Thus, while it relays a narrative story, it is not designed to be a strictly factual account of a historical event. This is not to say that it is not true. It is just not true in the same sense as a biography or one of the historical books of scripture. It is better to think of it as a parable which relays a spiritual truth or moral lesson. In this type of story, one should not press the facts of the story too hard for this is not where the truth lies. Jesus’s Parable of the Prodigal Son provides a similar example. Whether Jesus is referring to a particular father, son, or historical event is not important. It is the spiritual truth exemplified which matters. 

An Interesting Wager

The opening chapters (1 and 2) depict a unique scene in heaven. God is gathered with his angels when Satan approaches. During the dialogue, God points to Job as a sign of righteousness. To this the devil responds, that Job only loves God because of the blessings God has bestowed upon him and so the devil challenges God to a wager. The devil dares God to remove His blessing and see if Job falls away. 

The LORD said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the LORD and said, “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.”

The LORD said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil.”

The satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing?

Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.

But now put forth your hand and touch all that he has, and surely he will curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to the satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on him.” So the satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

(Job 1: 7-12)

Thus, Satan strikes down Job’s material possessions in a single day. But Job responds in what is perhaps the most famous line of the book, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” (Job 1:21) 

Hence, Job seems to pass the test. However, Satan is not done. He returns to God with a further challenge. Sure, Job may love you more than his possessions, but suffering will be the end of his love. 

The LORD said to the satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil. He still holds fast to his innocence although you incited me against him to ruin him for nothing.”

The satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.

But put forth your hand and touch his bone and his flesh. Then surely he will curse you to your face.”

And the LORD said to the satan, “He is in your power; only spare his life.” 

(Job 2:3-6)

The Essential Question

Thus, Job presents to us the essential question of evil. “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And, in the case of Job, he was a truly good person. The opening chapters repeatedly refer to him as righteous and blameless. His response to the first test alone, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” (Job 1:21) attests to his upright nature. Surely, this man amongst all of us can qualify as the good person. 

In order to further demonstrate the point, Job is approached by three friends. All of whom accuse him of sin and point to his downfall as evidence that he must not be the upright man he has presumed himself to be. Thus, Job must present his case for righteousness before God and man. 

Much of the remaining dialogue then contains Job’s wrestling with this question. First, defending himself to his friends and then lamenting his state before God. One striking feature of the text is the rawness with which Job expresses himself to God. 

“Is not life on earth a drudgery, its days like those of a hireling?

So I have been assigned months of futility, and troubled nights have been counted off for me.

When I lie down I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.”

(Job 7:1, 3-4)

Who amongst us have not had thoughts like this? 

A Candid Conversation and Answer to the Question

Chapters 38-42 record a conversation between Job and God in which God provides his response to Job’s lament in the face of suffering. Unfortunately, it is not completely satisfactory answer. 

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm and said: Who is this who darkens counsel with words of ignorance?

Gird up your loins now, like a man; I will question you, and you tell me the answers!

Where were you when I founded the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.”

(Job 38: 1-4)

In other words, we will never fully understand the ways of God. The wisdom of God in suffering will likely always to some degree escape us. However, there is another reason this Old Testament answer to suffering may be incomplete. That is because the mystery of suffering finds is answer in Christ. The Catechism puts in the following ways. 

“Faith in God the Father Almighty can be put to the test by the experience of evil and suffering. God can sometimes seem to be absent and incapable of stopping evil. But in the most mysterious way God the Father has revealed his almighty power in the voluntary humiliation and Resurrection of his Son, by which he conquered evil... It is in Christ's Resurrection and exaltation that the Father has shown forth "the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe". (CCC 272)

 “By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.” (CCC 1505)

Hence suffering, while still mysterious, is both redemptive and unitive under Christ. It demonstrates God’s power as he transforms suffering into the tool of redemption. Only God can bring good from evil. A power far beyond us. It further unites us to Christ and makes us more like Him. 

Afterall, isn’t this our experience? Suffering, while never fun in the moment, seems to forge us into something stronger and better.