"THE BOOK OF JOB"

                          Concluding Thoughts
In preparing this material we have learned that Job is one

of the more challenging books of the Bible.  Its challenge was

related to several things:
   * Knowing God would later rebuke Job and his friends for things they

     said, it was difficult to discern when to take what they said as

     "gospel", and what would incur God’s wrath.
   * Some of the illustrations or points being made were difficult to

     follow.  This may be due to cultural differences, or perhaps the

     Hebrew proved to be a challenge for the translators in conveying

     the thoughts of the speakers.  It was a challenge for this writer.
   * Elihu remains somewhat of an enigma.  The Lord neither condemns

     nor approves what Elihu had to say.  There are times it seems he

     is saying the same thing as Job’s three friends, that Job is

     suffering due to his sin; e.g., when he says that Job "adds

     rebellion to his sin" (Job 34:37).  I do see a major distinction

     between Elihu and the others, in that Elihu focuses on Job’s

     suffering as a disciplinary expression of God’s grace, as opposed

     to simply a punitive manifestation of God’s wrath.  I also see how

     Elihu’s admonition for Job to "stand still and consider the

     wondrous works of God" (Job 37:14) prepares Job for what is to

     follow when the Lord finally speaks.  Perhaps it best to say that

     Elihu serves as a transition between Job’s friends and the Lord

     himself, presenting thoughts that will make it easier for Job to

     consider what the Lord Himself will actually say.
Despite its challenges, the book of Job fascinating and filled

with much good for the Christian.  Studying the book of Job, we can

learn of God’s power, wisdom, and sovereignty in the world; we can see

how men of God grappled with the question of God’s justice; and we can

observe that God does take notice of the righteous.
The book also provides an answer to the challenge made by Satan.  There

are people who will serve God even in adversity, for God is worthy of

our praise apart from the blessings He provides.  May we be such

people!  That doesn’t mean we won’t have questions for which answers

can’t be found in this life.  But with the book of Job we can learn how

the righteous should suffer, how careful we should be in comforting the

suffering, and to accept the fact that we can never fully comprehend

God’s working in our lives and in the world.  From this book of Job, we

should see the need to have the faith beautifully expressed by the

prophet Habakkuk:
   Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines;

   Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no

   food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there

   be no herd in the stalls;

   Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my

   salvation.  The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet

   like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
                                  (Hab 3:17-19)

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