Your first reaction to the calling of Job a superhero might be, “why.” There is nothing in the Bible where Job saves a damsel in distress or fights a battle as a mighty warrior. He isn’t credited with God using him to perform a miracle, neither did God raise him from the dead. However, he is a superhero because he did something that takes super strength, trust, and love for God. He suffered without blaming God. He suffered and maintained his testimony. He lost everything that was dear to him without getting bitter.
In Job chapter 1, we are given a beautiful description of how God viewed Job.
Job 1:1-3 “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.”
Later in chapter 1, we see Satan speaking with God. God is pleased with Job and tells Satan of Job’s qualities. Satan replies, it is only because you have blessed him and protected him from any tragedies. God then gives Satan the opportunity to test Job’s allegiance to God.
Job 1:8–12 And the LORD said unto Satan, 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? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught? Hast not thou made a 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. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So, Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
We don’t know the timeline of Job’s suffering, but we do know what happened. The book of Job only mentions days and months, but not years. Most scholars believe it was less than a year that encompassed all the tragedies that came his way.
The first day of tragedies can be read in Job chapter 1. His children were “eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house” when the first tragedy happened. In verse 14, a messenger brings Job the news that his oxen, donkey’s and all the servants of them, except one, were killed by the Sabeans. The one servant escaped to tell him. While he was receiving word about the first slaughter another servant brought news and said, “The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” A lightning bolt had caused a fire and they were consumed. Before Job could comprehend what had happened, another servant came and said, “The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” This was not the end of that horrible day. You and I would think we couldn’t handle one more thing, and Job probably thought that also, but once more Job receives a message. In Job 1:18-19, he gets a crushing blow about his children. Before the last servant could finish another comes and says, “Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.” This news too was a crushing blow for Job. In verse 20, Job tears his clothes, shaves his head, falls to the ground, and worships God. This was symbolic of suffering great sorrow.
This is not the end of Job’s suffering, but here is where he differs from anyone else I know. At the end of a day none of us could imagine, all his wealth is gone and his children dead, Job blesses the name of the Lord. In verses 21 and 22 he says, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” I have been a Christian for a multitude of years and for the majority of tragedies, far smaller than this, people become bitter against God. They act almost as if God doesn’t have the right to allow such things to happen to them.
In chapter 2, Satan again seeks to prove that Job will turn away from God. Satan now turns to God and says the thing that will break Job is his own physical health. God allows Satan to afflict him but will not allow him to take Job’s life. In verse 7 of chapter 2 Satan “smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Job is miserable and he scrapes the boils and sits in ashes. His wife tells him to curse God and die. In verse 10 this is his answer to her, “Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” After this, his friends come to sit with him in his misery and eventually blame Job for what is happening. They accuse him of having unconfessed sin in his life.
Finally, Job has conversations with God, but he never turns his back on God. Eventually, God restores Job’s health, and his wealth is twice as much as before. He has more children and God grants him a long prosperous life. He kept his faith in God through all the tragic events of his life. He should be an inspiration to anyone who feels they have suffered beyond the normal situations of life. If Job could make it and draw closer to God through his trials, we can too.
