As most people know, according to the story in the Bible, Job's entire family died, he lost all his wealth and was afflicted with a horrible sickness just so God could win a bet with Satan. At the end of it all, God gives him a new family, wealth, and health as a reward for being so good and faithful.
Doesn't this scenario strike anybody else as being really wrong? Is Job really supposed to not be sad about his old wife and family because he has a new one? Is it fair to his old wife and family to die for a measly bet? How can people think that "God made it OK" by giving him a brand new family, as if it were as easy to replace a family as it is a worn-out car?
Any thoughts?
P.S. I know there are other interpretations of this text. I'm asking specifically those people who take the story at face value, the way I was taught it should be regarded when I was a Christian.
cattbarf2007-12-05T22:07:34Z
Favorite Answer
Job is a book in the Scriptures. The premise of the book is strange, but the point to stress is that SATAN NEVER DID ANYTHING THAT GOD DID NOT APPROVE OF IN ADVANCE. It's amazing how many Christians overlook this.
Also, the premise leads to the more important part, the lengthy discussions of Job with the three travelers about why there is misfortune. And finally, there is the position of God, that mankind is NOT privy to God's will.
The happy ending just is used to wrap up the story, and no deep philosoph.ical lesson is to be inferred from it. However, there are people who do rally from disaster, and go on to live a fruitful life with their new family. Two presidents had situations like that in their lives: Theodore Roosevelt lost both his wife and mother on the same day, and Woodrow Wilson lost his wife while he was President.
Isn't it amazing? They read into that story whatever they want to and do not see what you have mentioned. The loving god - I really don't know where anyone sees any love in that story or that god for that matter.
I can defiantely see where you are coming from, but at the same time, Job being a man of God knew the time will come when he will get to see ALL his family during the resurrection on paradise earth :-)
I really don't think you got the real meaning of Job.He loved God with all his heart. I have to say his friend did put God down a lot and God was very proud of Job what he had said.