Expert: Edward Bode - 9/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: Could you comment on this thought from the book of Job.
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(1) God Knowingly shows pride in Job, in front of Satan's Face.
(2) Satan makes a bet with God, and God accepts Satan's bet.
(3) All Knowing God did not say, "Satan get behind me", like Jesus with God would say centuries later in the future.
(4) Job looses family, health, and business.
(5) God gives Job substitute replacements.
(6) God lords over the innocent born ancient cattle farmer Job, for not knowing the differential equations of the heavens, and the combinatorial chemistry of life, from the beginning of time.
(7) Job bows down to God's Greatness.
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So:
(1) God's Pride comes before Job's fall.
(2) God proves His Greatness using His dirty rags little children of humanity to demonstrate His Greatness, with God free-willfully permitting Satan.
(3) The ends justify the means, where the means of God's Pride, God Accepting Bet with Satan, suffering dirty rags Job, and God lording over Job, are justified by the ends of demonstrating His Greatness to Job and Satan.  Also, the ends of salvation justify the means of universal human death, and suffering, because if God suffered making the cosmos, then His dirty rags little children will suffer too, repaid with eternal peace after God's Promised Death in His Master Planned Millenial Kingdom Intelligent Design.

ANSWER: Shawn, I am not an expert on the Book of Job; so, I cannot really provide appropriate answers to your general question.  
My recollection is that Job teaches that we humans cannot really understand the reasons for human suffering.  That complete understanding comes only with the revelation of the NT.
I do not agree with your conclusions, which seem to be based on your understanding of specific elements in the book -- your literal understanding of what may not have been intended to be understood literally.  Your (3) is not justified -- the constant Christian teaching is that the end does not justify the means.  God does not contradict Himself. Also, I do not understand what you are saying in your explanation of (3).
Possibly, you could write again and we could continue the conversation.


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

QUESTION: Inadequacy notwithstanding, To familiarize yourself with Job, the major Godly content is in the beginning and the end, with the middle filled with jewish philosophies of all kinds in debate that not anyone can understand burning metaphorical incense to heaven.  The first chapter shows the setup for (1) and (2):
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BIBLOS:AKJV:JOB01[6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And the LORD said unto Satan [[SATAN'S FACE]], [[YHVH PRIDE]] Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9[[SATAN'S BET]] Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power [[GOD ACCEPTS SATAN'S BET]]; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.]
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And in the end of Job, we see the lording LORD, over innocent born cattle farmer Job who had God's Prtection Removed by God's Free Will Choice with Satan:
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BIBLOS:AKJV:JOB38[4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?]
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I do not understand the non justification of (3), concept.  If we assume God is All Knowing All Powerful, God Knows he will create imperfection, suffering, death, and His Own Death, if the universe was created, and God does it anyway, in His Free Will.  The ends justify the means to God, even if Christians live on a different plane than God by different laws from God.  Perhaps this parses, Justified, for yourself:
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(3) The ends  of God justify the means of God, where the means of (a) God's Pride in front of Satan's Face, (b) God Accepting Bet with Satan, (c) the coming suffering dirty rags Job, and (d) God lording over Job, are all justified by the ends of demonstrating His Greatness to Job and Satan.  Also, the ends of salvation justify the means of (a) universal human death, and (b) human suffering, because if God suffered making the cosmos, then His dirty rags little children will suffer too, repaid with eternal peace after God's Promised Death in His Master Planned Millenial Kingdom Intelligent Design.

Answer
I am not sure what you want me to say in reply.
Most commentators see the climax of Job in chapters 38-42.
The NT tells us that God so loved the world that He sent His Son to redeem it.  
God chose to create intelligent humans with free will, and He also knew that some would reject His love despite His loving goodwill. God's knowledge does not cause humans to fail.  God can and does use human moral failures to bring about good -- especially the redemptive work of Jesus.
Possibly we do not agree on the basis our theological understanding of the data of revelation.
I still do not understand how you get to "His Master Planned Millenial Kingdom Intelligent Design."
Your further comments are welcome, Shawn.  Best wishes.