Job's Job

       Can you tell who this picture represents?  Well I guess one could assume based on the title of this post.  If this is your first piece written by me, I have as of today finished reading the entire Old Testament, the goal being to read the Bible in full.  Based on notes in the margins, I began and most likely finished this book on April 6, 2010 at 4pm on the third floor of the Union Square Barnes & Noble in New York City.

       You all I'm sure know the story of Job: extremely rich and blameless man in the land of Uz, who is challenged by God in severe ways, cries in anguish before his friends and questions God, ultimately submits himself to God's infinite wisdom and is given back everything God had taken away and more (kids, land, health).  You may have even applied or related that story in your own life - the story begging the questions:

"Why must the innocent suffer"; and
"Why doesn't God intervene when God has the power to do so?"
 

"The story of Job in my mind is the root of today's suspicious mantra, "God works in mysterious ways."  And of course you can take into consideration Bishop Desmond Tutu's stance back in 2003:

"One of the extraordinary things is that we have a God, the omnipotent one, who created all that is without our help. Yet, the paradox is that this omnipotent one is impotent - this God wants to wait on humans to collaborate with God on what God wants to do. God is quite willing to jeopardize his projects because God is willing to wait. He seeks to persuade unwilling partners." 

       But this note isn't about that aspect of the story.  Although the Bible is very dense, a close read will lead you to notice minor or major things you had never imagined would be in the Bible at all.  And of course certain stories leave you confused.  I've had many of these moments while reading the Old Testament.  The moment in question in the book of Job can be found within the first two chapters.  For me it was significant that Job, the 18th book of the Old Testament, is the first time a devil of any kind is even mentioned in the Bible.  Mine, a New Living Translation, does not clearly state that Satan is in fact the serpent in the Garden of Eden and most stories of destruction in the OT that I've read were by and large excused by God's blessing, or directed by God directly.

       The scene starts with God being approached by "The Accuser, Satan."  God casually asks Satan what he's been up to.  Satan responds, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."  Job 1:6-7.  Then God, almost in an effort to prove that such humans existed, replied, "Have you noticed my servant, Job?  He is the finest man in all the earth.  He is blameless, a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil."  Long story short, Satan then challenges God with indecent proposals and God ultimately agrees with Satan's wishes, which were to:

1) take away all of Job's possessions and have his family killed; and
2) force Job to suffer through painful boils all over his body as tests.   

       Ok, hold it right there.  This story basically begins by giving the reader the impression that God often gives Satan permission to wreak havoc on the masses below.  It's like the relationship between Hades and Zeus of Greek mythology fame, but I digress.  But why would God initiate that specific challenge to the Accuser, Satan...as if God had something to prove to Satan?  This baffles me and I've never seen more mysterious ways than that.  We always envision God punishing us directly, and Satan working in direct opposition to God, w/o God's permission.  To think they work in tandem is a bit scary.

And I haven't even touched on how the author was able to hear this entire conversation between God and Satan.  I simply cannot believe that aspect of the story, but ultimately...although the lessons learned in Job are valuable, the truth of the story to me not only is immaterial, but beyond my level of understanding (like the tortoise and the hare. C'mon son! Do you really think the hare would lose?).  So, discuss amongst yourselves if you are so moved and read the entire book of Job when you get a chance.  At the very least it shows how we should accept the bad with the good in life, while always striving to live blameless existences. 

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.