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Why did Job Suffer?

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Not having the insight of the discussion that took between God and Satan, we would be left with Job's friends speculating and discussing why Job suffered.  Reading the book of Job in full, we see a bigger picture. The book of Job reveals to us the things that are hidden from Job and his friends–the conversation that took between God and Satan.

God, asked Satan a question when he appeared before Him. "And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?'” (Job 1:8).  To which, Satan had to say this: “'Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land'” (Job 1:9-10).  Satan accused God and Job in his answer, God for blessing him and Job of having false motives serving God.  "Does Job fear God for no reason?" God responds to Satan accusation by giving him power of the over everything that Job has, except Job's life. “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand” (1:12).  This conversation took place before Job lost everything he had.  

Evil people 
We see camels, oxen and donkey were stolen by evil people and killed Jobs servants: “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you... The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you" (14-17).

Natural disaster
Job's children and sheep were taken by natural disaster, fire and wind. “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you... Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you" (16-19)

Fire, wind, Chaldeans, and Sabeans were the tools that Satan used to take away everything that Job has. Satan himself did not appear in some form of scary image and dictated his demons to take everything Job has, it was something natural, something normal taking place. 


It took 32 chapters, the discussion between Job and his friends, to give an explanation to why Job suffered? Lot's of ideas were given, but none were right or true before God.  We see the purpose of Job's suffering was the outcome of the discussion that Satan and God had about Job.  Did Job knew the reason for his suffering, no.  God in the last chapter did not explain to Job why he suffered, He just showed himself.

Natural disasters happen all the time; people do suffer in life, the question is: do we know why?  

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