The Background: Wealth, Righteousness, and the Unexpected

The Book of Job is one of the oldest in the Bible, possibly dating back to the time of Abraham. It is unique because it features a non-Israelite as the main hero of faith.

• His Location and Work: Job lived in the land of Uz, likely located east or southeast of Israel. He was a wealthy landowner and shepherd, possessing thousands of sheep, camels, and oxen. His great wealth and his willingness to use it for good made him one of the most respected men in the region.

• His Character: Job's faith was not just personal; it was proactive and exemplary. He took his role as a spiritual leader seriously, consistently offering sacrifices to God for his children, fearing they might have sinned or cursed God in their hearts (Job 1:5). He was a model of personal holiness and social justice.

• The Divine Setup: The book reveals a conversation in heaven where Satan challenges God, arguing that Job is only righteous because God protects him. Satan alleges that if God removed the hedge of protection, Job would curse Him to His face. God, confident in Job's genuine character, permits Satan to test him, provided Job's life is spared.

I. The Character Defining Loss

In a single, terrifying day, Job lost everything: his wealth (flocks and servants), his home, and tragically, all ten of his children.

• Job’s Initial Response: Job's reaction, despite the crushing loss, is one of the greatest expressions of faith in the Bible. He arose, tore his robe, and fell on the ground, but he did not curse God. Instead, he worshipped: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

• The Physical Affliction: Satan then struck Job with painful, debilitating sores (boils) from head to foot. His wife urged him to "Curse God and die," but Job refused, stating, "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:9-10)

II. The Character of Perseverance

Job's perseverance was tested less by the physical pain and more by the confusion and loneliness that followed.

• The Friends: Three friends came to comfort Job, but their comfort quickly turned into accusation. They operated under the false assumption that all suffering is a direct result of sin, concluding that Job must have committed some secret, terrible wickedness. They spent chapters trying to force a confession from him.

• The Struggle with God: Job fiercely maintained his innocence against his friends, but he did not pretend to understand his situation. His real struggle was with God's silence. He desperately wanted a face-to-face meeting with God to understand why he was suffering, but his core faith never completely broke. He famously declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” (Job 13:15)

III. The Revelation and the Reward

Eventually, God spoke to Job from a whirlwind. God did not give Job the reason for his suffering, but He revealed His own immeasurable power and wisdom.

• The Change of Heart: Job realized that God's plan was infinitely greater than his ability to comprehend it. He confessed: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted… therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2, 6)

• The Character Trait: Unbroken Trust: Job proved that his faith was genuine and not conditional upon his blessings. As a result, God rebuked the friends for their poor theology and restored Job, blessing him with twice as much as he had before, including a new family.

Applying the Truth Today

Job's character teaches the new Christian the vital lesson of endurance and sovereignty. You will face suffering in life, and when you do, the world will tell you it's unfair or that God doesn't care.

Job shows us that it's okay to feel confusion and grief, but it is never okay to abandon God. When you don't understand why something is happening, focus on Who God is—a sovereign, good, and all-powerful God who holds your life in His hand and will ultimately reward your perseverance.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. Job's Integrity. If you lost your job, your possessions, and faced severe illness, would your first reaction be to worship God? What does this reveal about where your security currently lies?

2. The Sovereignty Question. How does the reality that God allowed Satan to test Job change the way you view unexpected suffering and the sovereignty of God in your own life?

3. Enduring Trust. When you don't understand the "why" of suffering, how can Job's declaration, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him," become your anchor?

Your Reading Guide

To grasp his blameless character and wealth, read Job 1:1–5. Next, focus on the immediate response to loss in Job 1:20–22. Finally, read the result of his perseverance in Job 42:10–13.