Why do bad things happen to good people is a question many people ask. Of course, most of the time we are thinking of ourselves rather than others; we know we’ve been good, but we can’t be really sure about others. Life is tough for most people, and we wonder why. Job is a great example; he felt he was unjustly punished and wanted to ask God “why”.
Imagine being the richest person in your community, being highly respected by everyone, and losing all of your wealth and then your health. Your world has fallen apart; you are embarrassed, depressed, and feeling lost. That was Job’s experience.
The first two chapters and the last half of the final chapter are written in prose while the rest of the book is written in a poetic style. We do not know who wrote the book or when it was written nor do we know where the land of Uz was. However, one hint in the Bible is Eliphaz the Temonite. Esau (also named Edom) had a son named Eliphaz and one of his sons was named Teman. It maybe that Esau’s son was in the story and Uz was an earlier name for Edom.
- Outline:
- 1A. Behind the scenes. Chapters 1-2
- 2A. Theories about the scenes. Chapters 3-37
- 3A. Reality about the scenes. Chapters 38-42.
Key Verse: Job 42:1-4 “Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do anything, and on one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I – and I was talking about things I know nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”