I have problems with Job.
Well, that may be unfair. I have problems with popular interpretations of Job. Is that better?
I can completely get behind why it was included in the Hebrew Scriptures and even later in the canon. Viewed as a collective groaning from a post-exilic Israel, Job provided explanations as to why horrible things happen to good people. The idea that good people – especially faithful worshippers of YHWH – would have tragedy befall them was incredibly confusing and painful and people crave explanations for unexplainable things. So, clearly, it is desirable to believe they are caught up in a giant cosmic spitting contest.
In some ways, Job is one of the books that represents the best wisdom of its time. There were things happening that were unexplainable, so they had to be explained. Satan’s participation is always a convenient explanation. However, we have different wisdom now. We know that some diseases have clear and definitive causes. We know that epidemics spring up without warning sometimes and that natural disasters are often not predictable until it is too late – but we know that the gods are not angry with Haiti when an earthquake happens.
In light of new wisdom, as it were, the traditional claims of the meaning of Job frustrate me. To believe that I have experienced the traumas that I have because God needed to prove something to Satan? Or – on a more macro scale – that the people of Rwanda needed to prove their faithfulness? Seriously?
One of the commentators in The Africana Bible spoke of how Job is an incredible encouragement to his community. He lists several African-American writers who interpret Job similarly and then offers this conclusion.
The lessons from each of these Africana witnesses to the significance of Job’s tale are undeniable. Although the will of God is not clearly discernible, although bad things do happen to good people, although suffering is often all but unbearable, we still are to ‘keep on keeping on.’ The night of our suffering may be long, and the reasons for our suffering may be beyond our comprehension and our control, but we take heart
Clearly, as a person concerned at all times with respecting the truths of anothers’ culture, I am not about to discount the witness of these believers. This is clearly valid and real for many people worldwide and not just those of the Africana persuasion.
But if I can’t grant the premise that God works that way – that he allows evil to be done to us for some ultimate greater purpose – how am I to interpret Job for application in my own existence?
Maybe I’m not supposed to. Maybe I should just allow that this paradigm of faith works for some people and not for others and understand that this was and is ancient theology that traces back – much like CS Lewis’ Deep Magic – to before the dawn of time.
And maybe it’s not something I’ll ever figure out. Because, if seminary has taught me anything, it’s that no one really has any idea about anything – we’re all just trying to figure it out the best we can.


