Expert: Brian Thompson - 1/28/2012

Question
QUESTION: Hi Brian

The question is: WHY ? 9Did GOD allow Job to suffer the way he did?

From: NKJV 1:9~12 " So satan answered the LORD and said, " Does Job fear GOD for nothing?10Have You not made a hedge around him,around his household,and around all that he has on every side? You blessed the work of his hands,and his possessions have increased in the land.11But now,stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has,and he will surely curse You to Your face!"

12And the LORD said to satan, "Behold,all that he has is in your power:only do not lay a hand on his person."

BRIAN,"WHY" Did GOD allow this to happen to a very good religious man who loved the LORD JESUS CHRIST ?

GOD BLESS YOU BRIAN
Ray

ANSWER: Hi Ray

First please understand that Job may predate Jesus Christ by about 2000 years, it is probable that he was a contemporary of the Patriarchs. God understood Jobs faith and knew he was strong. the book of Job is a great example of how our thinking and God's is very different

Second Job is not different at any of us, we are all tested from time to time. Job was the priest of his household therefore in a unique position. God does not allow any of us to be tested beyond our capability to deal with it but the reality is we must have faith and Job had faith he did not ascribe wrong doing to God even though his friends tried to get him to do so.
I think we must see that Job's family did not have a relationship with God but like many religious relied on Job's intercession. Without that relationship satan is not denied because our relationship must be individual.

Third Job was a great ruler, we don't understand perhaps how large was his domain. Rulers of nations are also someone who satan would attack God is capable of removing wealth and also returning it Job was greatly blessed after the events described in the book of Job so although job lost his family he came out ahead in the end. Isn't this the example for our lives that we do not fear what satan might do.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Brian

I do get where your coming from. However, here's Job one of GODS
truly a faithful servant to the Lord.

GOD knows Job loves and fears the Lord.

Brian if I knew that someone loves me "WHY" on earth would I test him or even send them into danger or possible having them killed?

As far as I'm concern the Lord came and will do anything HE wants to me and others. I seems to me that the Lord used Job to see if Job would still be faithful to HIM. But the Lord knew this all the while.

Here's the way I look and believe the scriptures. There are things in the Bible I just don't understand. However, I do BELIEVE IT.

Comment if you like Brian. I do hope you see where I'm coming from.
GOD bless you Brian.
Ray M.

Answer
Hello Ray

The story of Job is one of those many instances in the Old Testament when we might say why would God do that? However ours is an unfolding understanding just as the Bible presents an unfolding understanding. We cannot immediately see Jesus Christ in Genesis, it is only looking back that we can understand that certain aspects present a picture of Jesus.

The Book of Job presents us with a picture of the soverienty of God, it also introduces us to the reality of satan, the eternal enemy of mankind. Everytime a natural disaster happens people say why did God permit such suffering and yet God gave the Earth to us. He did not say it came with an assurance that bad things would not happen.We are all tested by satan and sadly many of us fail the test and this can impact the lives of others. The testing of Job impacted the lives of many. The Bible does not say that being a servant of the Lord will prevent us from being tested. In fact it assures us we will be tested and that we have the support of the Lord who has given us the power to overcome. We can have a pity party for a time as Job did or we can assert our faith and move on.