Why?: A Study Through JobSample

By Danny Saavedra

“His wife said to him, ‘Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But Job replied, ‘You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?’ So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.”—Job 2:9–10 (NLT)

Has someone ever given you bad advice? 

“Credit cards are like free money . . .”

“Don’t get mad, get even . . .”

“Do what I say, not what I do . . .”

Truth be told, there’s a lot of bad advice out there, but I can’t imagine any worse advice then what Job received from his wife. After all that Job endured in chapter one, chapter two opens with the loss of his health. We’re told that Job was stricken with “terrible boils from head to foot” (Job 2:7 NLT). 

And as he sat there amidst the ashes of his once happy and prosperous life, “Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery” (Job 2:8 NLT) Why? It’s believed he was scratching the unbearable itch or attempting to pop the pus contained in his boils. Seeing this, his wife, who was no doubt distraught, confused, and angry, blurted out, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 

Now, I’ve never had my entire life fall apart. I’ve never lost it all. Because of this, I don’t think I have any right to criticize her. I’d like to say I would have endured all of the tragedy that she and Job did as Paul or Joseph endured their trials. But I don’t know . . . I can’t say for sure. 

What I do know is she gave bad advice. Our worship to the Lord shouldn’t only be reserved for the mountaintop moments. Why? Because even when we pass through trials, He is still God and that alone makes Him worthy of our praise. 

But even beyond that, He’s still with us and His love still sustains us; because even in trials He is working it all for our good. Isaiah 43:2 (ESV) says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you . . . when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” James 1:2–3 (NIV) says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” In 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV), the Lord told Paul that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Job knew this and he made this clear to his wife.

I pray that, as we encounter trials, we remember the Lord is still good and that He is still worthy. I pray we won’t go the way of Job’s wife.

DIG: What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?

DISCOVER: How should we react to trials? What should our attitude be toward God?

DO: Encourage someone today who is having a hard time. Give them better advice than Job’s wife did. Point them towards the Lord, not away from Him.