The Surprise of Suffering – Job 32-37

In this series we continue with the story of Job. Job feared God and worshipped Him, setting Job apart from those around him. We have seen Job in pain and grief, struggling to come to terms with suffering with his faith. Yet, despite all the suffering, Job still worships God, and refuses to curse Him. This week, we see the response and explanation given for this suffering, from Job’s friends (Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz), Job himself and finally, Elihu.

The suffering in this case is not a reflection of Job’s morality/immorality, nor is it a sign of God lacking compassion. Far from it, there is a great surprise in the suffering, namely that God is using it for Job’s good and His glory. Our suffering is not punishment for sin, Christ’s atonement covers this, rather it is refining, as all other potential competitors for God’s primacy are removed, we are left with what is ultimately and infinitely valuable.

1) Is Job Being Punished? Bildad (Job 8: 5 -6); Zophar (Job 11:4-6); Eliphaz (Job 15: 4-6). What are they all saying? You deserve what you are getting! Suffering is divine retribution, it is the chastisement of God, you are being punished for your wretchedness. However, these men knew Job. This wasn’t a man with a bad reputation. Their conclusion is there is some hidden darkness in Job’s life. The conclusion of the three friends is that Job is being punished.

The beautiful message of The Gospel is this: we will never be punished by God! Those who fear God, (like Job) who worship Him, do so on account of faith, that is confidence in God as Saviour – not self! If you are hurting, if you are suffering, if you are overwhelmed – know this: it is not, and could never be punitive! God will never punish His children; He will never chastise those He loves. Q. What are the dangers of believing suffering is punishment or justice for wrong that we have done? Q. Can you recognise the temptation to think that we are suffering as some form of punishment? Why do you think this is a common conclusion? Q. How does the advice and explanation given by Job's friends compare with the Gospel message?

2) Is Job God’s Enemy? How is Job now processing this? What is his response now, in his darkest hour? He is rejecting the counsel of his so-called friends. He knows they are wrong; he knows that he does fear God, that he is ‘righteous’ before him, and yet still he endures great suffering and pain. Job challenges God (Job 13:1-3). He puts God in ‘the dock’, demanding an answer – this is not Job’s finest hour, this is Job in his humanity, this is the Job perhaps, that we are more easily able to relate to, at least those of us who have experience trauma.

This is Job’s charge. I am innocent, I haven’t done anything that deserves this. So, Job concludes, he is God’s enemy (Job 13:23-24). However, Job cannot possibly be God’s enemy, because he loved God, something that is impossible for God’s enemies to do. We love, because He first loved us! Q. How does this reassure us when we feel abandoned, unloved and like enemies of God? Q. Why is it impossible for us to love God without him having first loved us?

3) The Surprise of Suffering Unlike Job’s original three friends, Elihu’s speech is not rebuked by God. Elihu’s message is different to the other three. He seems to prepare the ground for when God speaks. God is not your enemy, and you are wrong to seek to justify yourself to God rather than God to yourself. See the difference: instead of seeking to discern the purposes of God in his suffering, he has turned and accused God of wrong. What Elihu does is to help Job see that he isn’t as perfect as he might believe, for in this outburst it is clear that Job is proud.

Suffering is not a result of us being evil; it is not because we are God’s enemy. Far from it. Because you are His child and He loves you, God wants to save you from your sin, and draw you deeper into His love. Trials and suffering are a course of action that God takes with every single child He loves (Job 33:29-30). The suffering doesn’t save us, but as a sign and evidence, all whom God saves endure suffering and come out worshipping Him.

Read Romans 8:14-17.

It’s all so lovely, and then the phrase ‘provided we suffer with him’. Why? That we might be glorified with Him; the test of true faith. The suffering draws us upon God and faith surfaces. Suffering brings about endurance it brings focus, it forces you to fix your eyes on what matters most. Q. How can pride subtly appear in our relationship with God? How can we guard against this? Q. Have you experienced suffering that has helped focus attention on God? How can we remind ourselves to focus when things are going smoothly? Q. How can we ‘glorify God and enjoy Him in all things’ during times of suffering? How does this impact those around us?