Job's Question - Why?

  • Job 7:20 “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?”
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  • Job 31:35 “Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.”
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The question “why” is asked a number of times by Job in the book of Job. Little did Job realize that not only would “the Almighty… answer” him, but also a book was written about his ordeal. Actually the vast majority of the book of Job is spent answering the question “Why?”.

The book of Job can be divided into three parts: the Prologue, the Dialogue, and the Epilogue. Most of Job takes place in the Dialogue section. Job asks why God has brought all of these trials upon him. Job’s three friends answer incorrectly why God has punished Job. Elihu later responds correctly to Job in Job. 33:12-13 “that God is greater than man” and “giveth not account of any of his matters”. Finally, God arrives on the scene in chapter 38 and asks multiple questions Himself of Job.  God’s questions basically emphasize that God is great and that, like Elihu pointed out, God doesn’t need to give account for anything He chooses to do. However, from the book of Job, we can learn a couple of reasons why God allows trials in His children’s lives:

  • – From Job 1-2, we learn that Satan is sometimes behind our trials.
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  • – From Job 1:8 and 2:3, we learn about God’s pleasure in and proving of His precious children.
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From the infinite wisdom of God’s entire Word, we can learn other helpful truths about why trials come:

  • – From II Cor. 12:7, we learn that trials may come “lest I (we) should be exalted (proud) above measure”.
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  • – From II Cor. 12:9, we also learn that God’s “grace”/“strength”/“power” is made “perfect in (our) weakness”.
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  • – From II Cor. 1:4, our “tribulation” can be used to comfort others “by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
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  • – From James 1:3-4, we learn “that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” When we take our trials correctly, this perfected patience causes us to “ be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
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  • And many other lessons can be learned as to “why” trials come to God’s children.

  • James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”