If you are not familiar with the Bible, you might be thinking that this is a book about jobs, but in reality, it’s about a man named “Job.” In the New Testament, James mentions Job as an example of “patience in suffering” (Js. 5:11).

Many scholars feel that Job is the earliest book of the Bible, probably written during the time of the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, which would put it at around 2,000 B.C. It’s the story of a man named Job who loses everything, including his wealth, family, and health, and then in response to all of these “disasters,” he asks the same question that we would also ask, “WHY?”

The Book begins with Satan coming to God with permission to “mess with Job,” because he is recognized by all who know him as an upright and blameless man who always turns from evil and reverences God in all he does. The point of Satan’s request is that he suspects that Job’s honorable life is a result of all the blessings God has given him, and after all of his blessings are removed, Job will end up cursing God. It sounded like a great plan to Satan. The Book moves through three cycles of debates between Job and his three friends, each trying to convince Job to confess his sins and move on with his life. The final chapters of the Book focus on God speaking to Job, providing wise counsel in the form of questions, such as “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” And “Do you have an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like His?” (Job. 38:4; 40:9).

After God finishes addressing Job with a series of questions that challenge Job’s understanding, Job responds,

 “I have complained about things that I don’t understand. Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3)

And isn’t this like you and me? We complain about things that we don’t understand. Whenever we face challenges and disappointments in life, we all ask the “WHY” question, just like Job did. It’s OK to ask those “Why” questions, but to complain about our circumstances and to even blame God, well, that’s another story. In fact, Job asked God a series of personal questions, such as “Have I sinned?” and “Am I your enemy?” And then came the question that we all ask: “Why do the unrighteous remain while the righteous are taken away?” When these questions seem to overwhelm us, our response should be just as Job’s response noted above.

But we also get some help in the Book of Isaiah when God speaks through the Prophet Isaiah reminding him that God thinks and acts differently that we do, 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts that your thoughts” (Is. 55:8-9).

 But the passage that I want us to remember from the Book of Job is actually a prophetic statement from Job. In the midst of His suffering, at the time when he had no answers as to “why,” Job had this confidence.

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end, He will stand on the earth” (Job 19:25).

 Job’s prophetic statement was realized 2,000 years later during the life and ministry of Jesus. Although our Redeemer once stood on the earth, He now sits at the right hand of the Father, caring for and interceding for each one of us. Yes, in the midst of trial, we may not have the answers, but we rest in the fact that a loving and caring God does have the answers. We rest in His wisdom that He knows what is best, and we can rest and live confidently in His loving care. The writer of Hebrews tells us,

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested (and tempted) in all ways as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16).

 And let’s not forget what the Apostle Peter tells us to do when we are carrying a “load of care,”

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you art h proper time, casting all of your care upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6-7).

 So, you don’t have answers! I usually don’t either! But I know the One who does. And in knowing Him, I know that I can cast all of my burdens on Him, and He will care for me in ways that I can’t imagine. And you can do the same. Blessings to all of you.