Job - A Story of Unlikely Joyنموونە

What would you guess to be the longest period of time you’ve ever gone without “sinning in what you said”? 

I know it’s uncool to throw another sister under the bus, but I think it’s obvious why Satan didn’t kill Job’s wife along with his kids—she was more of an asset to the lizard alive than dead! Her nasty comment in Job 2:9, which certainly sounds like she’s taunting her own husband to curse God and die, has prompted saints through the ages to vilify her. 

To be fair, Mrs. Job had more than enough reasons to rail against God. Those seven sons and three daughters were her children too. Her grief was surely at least as deep as Job’s. Her mother’s heart had been shattered into a million, jagged pieces, which had sheared off her joy and every bit of faith she had in the goodness of Yahweh. 

If we’re being honest, I bet most of us can identify with her. My sweet daughter could actually give you recent times and dates when I’ve channeled a little Lady Job. In fact, just this week I was so physically and emotionally depleted from working and traveling way too much while battling the flu, that when she mildly misbehaved, I bellowed, “Melissa, I have had it! I will not tolerate this kind of disobedience anymore!” 

To say I overreacted would be putting my bad behavior mildly. So yeah, I can absolutely understand Mrs. Job’s ugly retort. I’m not saying it’s OK or innocuous—especially the cussing God part—but given her very bad, horrible, no good string of days, the eruption makes total sense. 

And I think Job had grace for her heretical fury too. Unlike ancient church fathers, he didn’t call her the devil’s personal assistant or a wicked hussy. He simply said she was being foolish. And who knows but what he pulled her into his bleeding arms when he said it, because he of all people knew the raw grief that incited her rage. Then he articulated the most brilliant, sound theological position one could ever assume in the midst of suffering: “Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” And that is called serving dessert first, because learning to accept everything that sifts through the sovereignty of God’s hands is the main takeaway of Job! It is truly the crux of this story and the unquenchable pilot light of personal joy.