Job follows God’s law perfectly. Creator has rewarded him with more than anyone could imagine. Job is God’s number one fan.
God and Satan set up a friendly wager. If Job turns against God, Satan wins. If Job stays loyal, God wins. Job loses everything, including his family. Satan gets ready to collect.
We see Job falling on the ground in perfect mourning. Then, to Satan’s horror, and to God’s delight, we hear the sound of worship: The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (verse 21) In the face of all that has happened, Job will not blame God.
I don’t believe the book of Job is suggesting we must always take this unwavering stance. Were I to lose everything that I hold close, I’d be yelling, crying and in shock. Even Job is not so sure by the end. God gives him assurance that in the midst of loss, in the midst of the unanswerable questions we might have, God remains with us. Nothing is so horrible, so devastating, so mean that God has abandoned us. Amid our times of lament, Creator seeks to support us, to help us ask questions and to be in dialogue, and to see more fully God at work.
God, grant us healing and restore our faith. Amen. —