“I wonder what they did to deserve that.” Have you ever thought that? It is human nature to engage in what the Germans call Schadenfreude – rejoicing in the sorrows of others. Job’s “friends” were steeped in this. They were sure he “had it coming to him,” when his world unraveled with economic, domestic and medical suffering.
So who was Job? The writer makes it clear that this man, likely a contemporary of Abraham, was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil. Whatever the reason for Job’s suffering, it was not payback for mistakes he had made. He kept his own life right and prayed for his kids to do the same. Even and especially wonderful people may experience enormous tragedy in our broken world.
Job’s life and love for his family inspire us. True, none of us is sinless, but Job’s devotion to godliness reminds us that it is possible to fear the Lord and shun evil. When we walk in fellowship with the Lord of light, he will reveal darkness before we succumb to it. As John Mark Comer affirms in his recent book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, taking the time to have a quiet time is still a great practice. We do not outgrow it. We don’t offer animals as sacrifices but we offer our lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.
Further, knowing Job’s suffering in spite of his complete dedication to God, helps us to respond to the suffering of others. We must not assume the worst about anybody. We may have a point of view, but God, alone, possesses view. So we wait for him and leave all things in his hands.
One of the godliest people I have ever known was Jim Freeman, my wife’s dad and my kids Pawpaw. A pillar in his church, he lost his wife in a bus crash on the way to a Gaither concert. Good people suffer in a fallen world. Watching him continue to love the Lord, sing in the choir and lead in his church after Jo died reminds me that Job was not alone. Good people suffer. Our gracious God sustains us through it all.
