Job 3-4 – The Reality of Suffering and Our Reaction to It

Job 3-4 – The Reality of Suffering and Our Reaction to It

In Job chapters three and four we are confronted with two realities. First we notice that even the righteous can suffer unimaginable pain. Have you ever been brought down to a low point in life that forced you to ask the same question as Job? Why were you even born? We observe the rawness of Job’s emotions as he questions his very existence throughout chapter three.

As we struggle with the ups and downs of life, we must constantly realize that our existence is not like the sitcoms of television. Problems there are minimal at best and can be neatly resolved within a thirty minute or one hour timeframe. Real life is messy. Similarly to Job (but probably not on the same scale) we constantly suffer pain and loss. I am at the stage in life where many of the people that helped raise and mentor me are now departing this life. That is very difficult. Ultimately, we all are touched by death at every stage in life. Perhaps you are at the age where your peers are starting to pass away. This can be very disconcerting and difficult to understand. Yet it is inevitable.

Other struggles include the loss of health, material possessions, income, employment, or relationships with significant others. All of which produce a unique hurt in our lives. Sometimes the pain reaches a point where we question our very existence. It is during these times when we might even begin to question God. Is He angry with me? Has he completely forsaken me? Am I all alone? Rest assured that these are all natural concerns during times of great pain.

The answer to this question is that God has not abandoned us. In Job’s case you will recall that he was intimately involved in the situation. This was a trial of Job’s faith. Job was being tested. Perhaps you are too. Regardless of the reasons why you are suffering, Scripture teaches us that our God is omnipresent. That means that he is everywhere present and nowhere absent. He knows your situation. Job understood this truth. Later he would exclaim in Job 13:15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job knew that God was there with him! Although his pain was immense, God was still present. That is the case with us as well. Paul would later write:

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

He will never leave us. Yes, there is a time for sorrow, but let us not sorrow as those without hope. Our Lord will lead, guide, and direct us in the midst of the most unimaginable trials of life! Yea we can even be content regardless of the difficulties we face.

The second reality of life occurs in the fourth chapter of Job. That is the fact that there will always be somebody around willing to offer (ofttimes unsolicited) advice to you regarding your situation. In this instance we meet Eliphaz the Temanite. At a casual glance Eliphaz seemingly makes some good general points. The only problem with them was that they in no way applied to Job. His comments are summed up in verses 7 and 8:

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

Eliphaz wrongly assumed that Job must have committed some sort of iniquity and as a result God was punishing him for his misdeeds. How many times do we jump to such conclusions? We see an individual going through trials and our first thought is, “I wonder what they did to deserve that?” My friends this ought not be so!

Some of the most hurtful words that are exchanged between brothers and sisters in Christ are often veiled in the form of unsolicited or incorrect advice. Many feelings have been needlessly hurt because of the careless words of others. Job later likened the words of Eliphaz to digging a pit for his friend. They were hurtful and not at all beneficial.

The Bible teaches us that we are to exercise care in what we say to others. There are times when what we might perceive as helpful or encouraging actually has the opposite effect on the hearer. We might think that we are ‘straightening out’ the one in which our words are directed, but is what we are saying pleasing to God? James offers the following warning:

James 1:19-20 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Paul exhorts us to be charitable in our dealings with others. I believe that this applies in how we advise those in which we have influence.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Lord help us not to be miserable comforters! May we exercise care with what we speak to our friends. May we be longsuffering towards those that are going through troubled times. May we assume the best and not jump to conclusions. May we exercise compassion towards all that are hurting in whom we have contact. It is likely that we will find ourselves on the receiving end sooner rather than later.

Blessings,

Michael D. Green, Jr.

Fort Wayne PBC