Job 21-24

June 4

Job 21-24

Job readdresses the question of justice. Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer? Eliphaz responds as some Christians respond even today. "“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you." (Job 22:21, NIV) Does righteousness guarantee prosperity? If we have enough faith, does it guarantee we will not get sick or suffer? If we are living sold out lives for Jesus, does that mean God will give us everything we pray for?

Job argues that he has lived in righteousness. He has exercised his faith and continues to trust in God. He has followed and obeyed God’s instruction, but he is still facing suffering and loss. Job wants a meeting with God to plead his case. Job is an example of a man of God who faces suffering not because of what he has done, but because he lives in a fallen sinful world. God allowed Satan to inflict him to prove his righteousness.

We do not know all of God’s plans. We do not understand suffering and loss. Some will tell you, like Job’s friends that if you are suffering, if you are sick, if you are poor, it is because you do not have enough faith or you were paying for your sin. Job was suffering because he was righteous and was a man of faith. Followers of Jesus are not guaranteed not to suffer. In fact Jesus said we would be hated and we would face persecution because of our faith. The people rose up against Jesus and killed Him. How can we expect anything less for ourselves?

But when we face suffering or persecution or loss, we can know that God is still with us. He will bring us through the difficult times. We may still face the illness, the loss, the heartache, but God will redeem us and refine us through the difficult times. Suffering does not necessarily mean we are paying for our sin. Sickness and death do not mean we lack faith. We do not understand the ways of God, but by faith we will see God and be able to stand before Him in victory because of our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.