Sacred Suffering - a Study on the Book of JobSample

How do you imagine God’s heavenly throne room? Perhaps you picture a rainbow circling His throne, with flashes of lightning and peals of thunder booming from its midst, as described in Revelation 4:3–6. Or maybe you picture Isaiah’s description of seraphim with six wings surrounding God (Isaiah 6:1–3). We find ourselves in the holy throne room of God in today’s reading. But there’s an unexpected guest—Satan.

Here we learn that even Satan, God’s enemy, must report to God. When God asks Satan where he’s come from, Satan responds, “From roaming through the earth” and “walking around on it.”

And surprisingly, God suggests someone for Satan to test—Job. But this test is not a punishment. God chooses Job because he is a man of integrity. Of course, Satan jumps on the opportunity to torment a servant of God.

Why would God propose Job? We are not given a clear answer. But the Bible does teach us who God is—He’s all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at once. He’s sovereign, or in control. God knows the future, therefore, He knows the outcome of Job’s test even before Satan’s attack. We can trust that in God’s view of eternity, Job’s trials will be for his greater good and for God’s glory.

As we reflect upon who God is in light of the suffering that will come to Job, we can put ourselves in Job’s shoes. If all that we have is stripped away and our lives on earth are fraught with despair, will we believe God is worthy of our praise? Here, we look to Calvary. We behold Jesus, who chose to suffer so that His people could be reconciled to God and have hope for eternity. We behold a Savior who felt the sting of death so that we could have life. We behold the Conqueror who triumphed over Satan. Our hope is Christ, our King who is seated at the right hand of God. Jesus is worthy of praise no matter the trials we face.

Reflect and Respond question

Even though God allows suffering, why can we trust Him?