One day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing beside them, 15 and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 He was still speaking when another came and said, “God’s fire has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 He was still speaking when another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put the servants to the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 He was still speaking when another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the desert and smashed the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.” Job’s Reaction. 20 Then Job arose and tore his cloak and cut off his hair. He fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” 22 In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with wrong.
The adversary set to work. Job lost all of his possessions and his children were all killed in four separate incidents on the same day. Tearing the cloak, cutting the hair, and prostrating oneself are signs of mourning (v. 20). Job then fell to the ground and worshipped Yahweh. Job’s wisdom was evident even in his sorrow, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there (v. 21; Eccl. 5:14). Job praised God even in his suffering and did not sin. Using the name of Yahweh three times was a standard liturgical formula (v. 21), “Praise, you servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever (Ps. 113:1-2).” Job finds strength in the traditional expression of trust in Yahweh.
The ancients believed that God was in control of all things, even suffering. Suffering was the punishment for sin (Gen 3:1-20). This is contrary to the modern understanding of God who can only do good. God allowing Job to suffer is disturbing to modern readers of Job. The Book of Job refutes the law of retribution, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot (Ex. 21:24),” and tries to show that suffering is not a direct result of sin. If Job is perfect in God’s eyes, why would God allow him to suffer? With respect to sin and punishment, Jesus said, “Those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them —do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did (Lk. 13:4-5)!
Almighty God, we believe with perfect faith that you are the
creator, blessed be your holy name, and to You we offer our supplications,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever
and ever. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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