Job was a blameless and upright man. He lived in the land of Uz. He feared God and shunned evil and he desired to lead his children to do the same. Job was greatly blessed with a large household and plenty of livestock.
There was a controversy between God and satan (1:6-12). God volunteered Job to be the one who would prove satan wrong. God allows Job to be severly tried, but satan can not harm him. God used Job’s sufferings to bring even greater blessings and strength at the end of his trials.
Within a few hours’ everything that was precious to Job was stripped away (1:13-22). He tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground. Job’s love for God was not dependent on his possessions. Yet in his grief, he worships and praises God. He gives God the glory and does not charge God with wrong.
Satan appears before God again (2:1-6). Satan claims Job will curse God. God allows satan to afflict his servant Job with a sickness that tested Job’s faith. Job never gave up on God. He never placed hope in his experience, wisdom, friends, or wealth. Although he didn’t understand everything he was going through, his trust remains in God. He relied on God, despite his circumstances. Job stayed obedient, willing to follow God, and perseveses with patience.
The only mention of Job’s wife comes at the start of his affliction (2:9-10). His wife held onto bitterness and was not able to offer him support during his suffering. Job’s three friends shared Job’s grief, but did not offer good advice (2:11-13). Job’s friends assumed he was hiding sins and refusing to confess and accept responsiblity for his sins. Job knew he had not disobeyed God.
Even in intense pain, Job was concerned about his spiritual condition (Chaps. 29-31). He eventually became upset and confused. He began to feel God was not listening. Yet Job did not give God the chance to answer. Job began to question God’s sense of justice, yet he still believed God was good and he did not sin.
In the end, God bought Job to a place of humble surrender. The Lord addresses Job and all were silenced. He listens with humility and awe. God says nothing about Job’s suffering and does not give an explanation for his suffering. God is in control of every situation, whether we are given answers to our troubles or not. Often there is much more to God’s plans than we can know from our finite perspective, and this includes suffering.
Job submits to God’s sovereignty and could do nothing but worship and trust God. Job showed mercy to his friends and asked God to forgive them. Silence taught Job to stand humbly and trust in his Creator. Humble surrender expanded Job’s understanding of God and gave him a proper prospective of the way God works.
Job’s testing of faith leads him to see the sovereign God’s hand at work. God used the majesty and power of His creation to show Job His sovereignty. Job actually saw the sovereign Lord. God restored everything he lost back to him. The man, who was blameless and upright before suffering, was even greater because of that suffering.