“It is clear that God does not act with evil” (JOB 34:12).
1, 2. What are some reasons to read the book of Job?
Some of the reasons to read the Book of Job are that, although it was written some 3,500 years ago, it is still considered a jewel of world literature. Its simplicity of structure, the beauty of its style, the expressiveness of its language, and the genius of its author have all been praised.
Furthermore, it clearly shows the important issue facing all intelligent beings: the sanctification of Jehovah’s name. It also helps us to better understand God’s beautiful qualities, such as love, wisdom, justice, and power. Finally, the book of Job explains why God allows suffering and answers other important questions about life.
3. What are some benefits of studying the book of Job?
It allows us to see our problems from a higher perspective: Jehovah's, in the same way that when we climb to the top of a mountain and, upon reaching the summit, it becomes easier for us to see the entire panorama that surrounds us.
The book of Job helps us when we are suffering. Just as Job's story benefited some Israelites in the past, it benefits us today. Furthermore, we can use this story to help others understand why they suffer.
GOD ALLOWS JOB TO SUFFER
4. What was the difference between Job and some of the Israelites who were in Egypt?
The main difference between Job and some of the Israelites in Egypt is that they had begun to worship idols; in contrast, Job faithfully served Jehovah. In fact, God said: “There is no one like him on earth.” Although Job was extremely wealthy and the most important and respected man in the East, despite his prominence and influence, he served God with integrity.
5. Why did Jehovah allow Job to suffer? (Job 1:20-22; 2:9, 10).
Jehovah allowed Job to suffer because Satan claimed that Job would turn his back on Jehovah if he suffered, thus raising many important questions and calling into question Job's integrity and the loyalty of Jehovah's servants in general.
Although Jehovah deeply loved Job, he allowed Satan to try to prove him right or wrong. Even when Job lost his possessions, his family, and his health, he remained loyal to Jehovah. In this way, it was shown that Job served God out of love and that Satan’s accusations were false.
6. How might the story of Job have helped the Israelites? (See also the image.)
The story of Job could have helped the Israelites to better understand the origin of suffering and to identify Satan as the primary cause. It would also have taught them why God allows suffering and reminded them how precious the integrity and faithfulness of his servants are to Jehovah.
Furthermore, seeing that Job remained loyal despite extreme trials and that Jehovah ultimately blessed him, the Israelites would have received encouragement and hope to endure their own difficulties, both those they experienced in Egypt and those they faced during their time in the wilderness.
ILLUSTRATION
An Israelite meditates while stacking bricks in Egypt. To his right and left, Egyptians can be seen beating other hardworking Israelites with sticks.
The Israelites, who were slaves in Egypt for many years, eventually learned the story of Job and surely drew practical lessons from it. (See paragraph 6.)
7, 8. How can the book of Job help those who are suffering? Share an experience.
The book of Job can be of great help to those who suffer because it teaches us the true reason for suffering. It helps us understand that the cause of suffering is not God, but Satan, and that suffering is not always the result of personal mistakes, for the Bible explains that everyone can experience “some bad time and some unexpected event.” Furthermore, it teaches us that when we remain faithful to Jehovah in the midst of trials, we uphold his reputation and prove Satan a liar.
One example of this is the story of Hazel, a woman from Rwanda. She suffered greatly from a young age: her parents' divorce, abuse from her stepfather, and a horrific assault. Finding no solace in her religion, she came to believe that God was responsible for her suffering and decided to stop believing in him. However, by studying the Bible and reading the book of Job, she learned that Jehovah was not the cause of her suffering and realized that God loved her. Hazel said that by truly knowing Jehovah, she was able to open her heart to him and find happiness again.
HOW JOB'S STORY HELPS US ENDURE
9. How would you describe Job while he was suffering? (James 5:11).
Job can be described as a man sitting alone in the ashes, his body covered in sores and writhing in pain. He is skin and bones, his skin peeling off in strips, blackened by disease. Job was not merely surviving, but enduring with patience and resilience, trusting in God despite not understanding the reason for his suffering.
10. What kind of relationship did Job have with Jehovah, and how do we know?
Job had a close relationship with Jehovah and felt free to express everything that was in his heart to him. We know this because he bitterly complained about all his tragedies, mistakenly believing they came from Jehovah.
Later, in conversations with his three supposed friends, he staunchly defended his integrity, often addressing Jehovah. His words seem to indicate that, for a time, he considered himself more righteous than God. Job also admitted that, in his efforts to defend himself, he had spoken rashly and wished that Jehovah would hear him and declare him innocent.
11. What did Jehovah do when he answered Job?
When Jehovah finally answered Job, he did not give him a detailed explanation of why he was suffering, nor did he rebuke him for his complaints. Instead, he corrected him as a good father corrects his son, teaching him and leading him to understanding. This correction caused Job to humbly acknowledge the limitations of his knowledge and retract all his thoughtless words.
12. What possible benefits did the Israelites derive from the story of Job?
The Israelites were able to draw several benefits from the story of Job. For one thing, it taught them to express their feelings to Jehovah, just as Job did, trusting that God hears and understands their concerns. It also showed them the importance of not considering themselves more righteous than God and of humbly accepting his discipline, even when they face difficulties or do not understand the reasons for their circumstances.
13. How can the story of Job help us to endure? (Hebrews 10:36).
It can help us endure when we may be going through a physical or emotional problem, a difficult family situation, the death of a loved one, or some other serious issue. It teaches us that we can express our deepest feelings to Jehovah with the confidence that he will hear us and that he will not be angry if, in unburdening ourselves, we say something inappropriate, as happened to Job.
On the contrary, he will give us the strength and wisdom we need to endure. If we need correction, he will provide it through his Word, his organization, an elder, or a mature friend. Just as listening to Jehovah did Job good, we too will benefit from being humble and accepting the counsel we receive.
LET US USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS
14. What is one way to explain why suffering exists?
One way to explain why suffering exists is by showing what happened in the beginning. We can start by saying that Satan, an evil angel, told Adam and Eve a lie, and as a result, they disobeyed God. We can explain that because of Adam and Eve's rebellion, we suffer and die. Finally, we can say that God allows enough time to pass to prove Satan wrong and for people to know that human beings will once again be perfect.
15. How can we use the book of Job when someone asks us why suffering exists? (See also the images.)
When someone asks us why suffering exists, we can begin by congratulating them on asking such a good question. Then, we can explain that, in ancient times, a man named Job asked himself the same question when he went through much suffering, even thinking that God was somehow causing it.
The person might be surprised to learn that others throughout history have asked the same question. We could explain that, in Job's case, God wasn't responsible for his suffering, but rather Satan, who made him suffer to demonstrate that human beings only serve God out of self-interest and would abandon him in the face of suffering.
We can add that, although God did not cause Job's suffering, He allowed it because He was convinced that human beings could remain faithful and prove Satan a liar. We could conclude by saying that, because of his faithfulness, Job was blessed by God.
ILLUSTRATION
Image series: 1. After a devastating fire, a woman kneels and weeps among the rubble of her home. In her hands, she holds a framed photograph. 2. Later, the woman walks past one of our carts located near a relief work center, and a sister reads her a Bible verse.
How can we use the book of Job to teach others that “God does not act with malice”? (See paragraph 15.)
16. Tell an experience that shows how the book of Job can help someone who is suffering.
The book of Job can be a great help to those who are suffering, as Mario’s experience shows. In 2021, he was going through such a difficult time that he even wrote a suicide note. When a sister who was telephone-preaching called him, she read him a verse and then told him about Job’s sufferings. Mario decided to read the entire book. This helped him understand that God had not abandoned him and that He was genuinely interested in him. As a result, he accepted a Bible study and became excited to learn more about Jehovah, experiencing comfort and hope in the midst of his suffering.
17. Why are you grateful that Jehovah included the book of Job in his Word? (Job 34:12)
I am grateful that Jehovah included the book of Job in his Word because it shows us that “God does not act in wickedness.” This book teaches us why he allows suffering and helps us to endure in the midst of trials. It also gives us tools to comfort those who are suffering and to better understand Jehovah’s love, justice, and wisdom. Thanks to it, we can strengthen our faith and help others approach God with confidence.
WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?
How does understanding why God allowed Job to suffer benefit us?
Understanding why God allowed Job to suffer benefits us because it helps us see that the cause of suffering is not Jehovah, but Satan. It also teaches us not to assume that those who suffer are paying for their mistakes, since “bad times and unforeseen events” can happen to anyone.
Furthermore, it shows us that if we remain faithful to Jehovah during trials, we uphold his reputation and prove Satan a liar. This understanding brings us comfort, strengthens our faith, and enables us to help others understand the true reason for suffering.
How can the story of Job help us to endure?
The story of Job can help us to endure because it shows us how to express our deepest feelings to Jehovah with confidence, knowing that He will listen to us and will not get angry if we say something out of place, as happened to Job.
Furthermore, it teaches us that Jehovah will give us the strength and wisdom needed to endure trials. If we need correction, he lovingly provides it through his Word, his organization, an elder, or a mature friend.
Thus, Job's example shows us that by humbly accepting Jehovah's guidance and correction, we can strengthen our faith and remain steadfast in the midst of difficulties.
How can we use the book of Job to help others?
We can use the book of Job to help others by explaining how Job faced suffering and remained faithful to God. We can tell them that, like Job, many people throughout history have wondered why problems and misfortunes exist, and that in his case, the suffering did not come from Jehovah, but from Satan, who wanted to prove that humans only serve God out of self-interest.
We can also highlight that although God allowed Job to suffer, He did so for a purpose: to show that humans can remain faithful and that Satan is a liar. Finally, we can point out that Jehovah blessed Job for his faithfulness, showing that perseverance and trust in God bring reward. In this way, we can comfort those who suffer and help them understand the true cause of their trials.
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