Day 17
Job is a familiar story to most in the West. He’s often used as an example of the cruelty of God, or for some — the absence of God. I didn’t read it with any of those perspectives today. I didn’t dust off my old theodicy books. I didn’t even bother trying to figure out the wager between God and Satan (look who’s back! Satan is a rare character.) Instead, I read it with familiarity. This past year was a Job year. Some people lost everything, others lost something — but everyone experienced shock and grief. People cried out “Why me? Why us?” From the pandemic taking over 500,000 American lives to an attempted insurrection by Republican and Trump-endorsed white nationalist conspiracy theorists. Why indeed.
I resonated with Job’s anguish. I recalled times in my life, not just this past year, where I’ve been in deep grief. I also recognized his friends who were not helpful in the slightest. I appreciated Job losing his patience with them. If you read the story, you quickly learn that the wager between God and Satan is merely a plot device. It isn’t the central event. The core of the story is Job’s lamentations and most of his friends shrugging it off. “Oh you’ll be fine!” “Just think positive thoughts!” “God doesn’t like complainers.” “Pray!” “Hey, why are you upset, you’re still alive!”
It became all too real. Everyone has had those moments with unhelpful people. And then one truth teller comes along and speaks to our core, as Elihu did at the end of the book. He may not have spoken in a way that resonated with me, but it resonated with Job — and it surely has resonated with countless people since.
Job contributed to an emerging understanding of the Bible for me. I’ve said it before, but here it is again. It is a collection of writings deeply rooted in the human experience. It matters so little to me if there’s anything factual here. It also matters little to me if Jehovah/YHWH/The Lord is a realistic depiction of the divine for me. Jehovah is more of a narrator here, keeping things moving, ensuring we get to the raw humanity.
That was Job. The perfect book for these times.
One Word for Job: Mourning
Parts of the Text That Stayed With Me
- Job 1, God’s a Gamblin’ Deity. The infamous wager between God and Satan to destroy Job’s life and see if he curses God. It felt more like God and Satan were playing checkers and came up with this idea. Imagining it that way didn’t make me as upset as I thought it would.
- Job 8, Helpful Friends. From here on out, Job’s friends try to help him and fail miserably. They say all the wrong things. To the point where Job is all like…
- Job 16:2, Tell it Like it is, Job. “Miserable comforters are you all.” Say it plain and say it true, Job. They were miserable comforters. You need new friends.
- Job 38, God Appears Again. After Elihu says what Job needs to hear, God appears and sets things right. He blessed Job, curses his useless friends (except Elihu), and Job goes on to live a great life, much better than his former one (in Chapter 43).
This post is part of a lager series where I read the entirety of Hebrew & Christian scriptures in 45 days. Take a look a the original post for more info, as well as links to other reflections on this journey.