The tribulations of Job

Well the bible says he was blameless or perfect. If one is blameless, then no, I don't think he deserved it. I think he fell short of the glory of God, but I would not wish what happened to him on the worst of sinners........ since I am one myself.

 

I don't know what the Bible means by "blameless" and "perfect" in Job's case, but I think we would agree that it does not mean sinless! Even one sin is worthy of eternity in hell. So yes, Job deserved what he got and worse.

 

Instead of saying, "Why me Lord?", we need to be saying, "Why not me, Lord?"

BTW, check out my signature line...
a saying I live by...

 

In case you do not know the origin of that well-said line:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_but_for_the_grace_of_god_go_I

 

Why people suffer isn't the question that is so puzzling. It is why people receive blessing that is the puzzling one. Of course, the answer to the second one is Grace.

 

Did Job deserve it??

In what sense do you mean that?

1. Did Job deserve (as in being paid back by God temporally) by going through what he went through?
1a. Not according to God. If the Word says Job was blameless then we need to remember that it is/was the very Spirit of God, who knows the very mind of God, to place it as the very Word of God.

2. Did Job deserve his circumstances as part of sin against God by nature during that particular time in his life?
2a. Again, not by the standards of Scripture. It states at THAT time (we don't know anyting about him earlier in life) that he was blameless, of complete integrity, he feared God, and stayed away from evil. He was also under God protection and in His favor. I think that pretty much qualifies him as one who is in a right standing with God, and therefore not deserving of it as judgment due to sin, since God had placed him in His favor not under His wrath.

3. Did Job deserve his afflictions because he had faith?
3a. The answer is Yes. It is only through trials and testing that our faith grows, matures, and becomes unmobable. So the afflictions were absolutly necessary in relation to Jobs faith.

4. Did Job deserve his afflictions because Gods unknown purpose and plan?
4a. Yes again but only God knows those hidden aspects that are set forth to touch other aspects of our lives, our families lives, and our friends lives. But we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God AND are the called according to his purpose.

:thumbs:

 

Another could be that the affliction he incured could have been from an ancestor? The bible does say that the results of sin are visited upon generations of those who come after. Just a thought.

 

Actually that is first stated in the Law, and more specifically in the Big 10.

So in light of that, (IMO) it 'could' be argued this was not something that Job or anyone at that time would have been abiding under. Secondly Job was prosperous, wealthy, and a man that God was well pleased in. Therefore it is apparent that he was under no curse from God due to sinnful family members. Besides, God brings Job up to Satan and Satan declares that no one can touch Job because the hand of the Lord protects him.

Visiting the iniquity of the faithers upon the children down even to the fourth generations, means simply the parents who were given to consistant or rebelious worship and would not repent were going to be judged. But that judgment was going to be such that their children, though not guilty of their parents sin, will none the less be placed in the same conditions as their parents due to the obvious nature of the relationships. We see this played out over and over concerning Israel and its idol worship, as they are cast under the feet of pagan countries through conquest for generations until they repented and called unto the Lord their God for salvation.

 

I was working at that time, but I had a friend there. :laugh:

Naw, seriously he was a relitive of mine so I have a little better insight than some :laugh: