The ENIGMA of the Book of Job

Robert E. Gentet

© 2025

The Old Testament book of Job is one of the strangest books in the entire Bible. There intense loss and suffering falls on the most righteous man of his time. It is an account that causes many to question the reason for such calamity. In fact, many say the book offers no ultimate explanation for Job’s hardships. Did God inspire a book that gives no answer to such a basic question? This article says: “No.” In fact, God’s intervention in Job’s life has everything to do with all humanity. All Scriptures quoted are from the English Standard Version (ESV).

Tell us a little about the background of the book of Job. When was it written? Who wrote it?

The book itself offers no chronological date or authorship. Therefore, it is not possible to determine exactly when it was written or by whom. As you might surmise, this lack has generated much speculation. Because of the immense amount of preserved communication within the book between individuals, it would seem that some type of original writing had been passed to the author.  

The book offers a clue to the time element of Job’s life. Job 42:18 notes that Job lived another 140 years after all the events recorded of his life in the book. The age of Job when his many hardships happen is not given, so the total age of Job is unknown. If one would, for the sake of argument, say he was 40 years old at the inception of all his troubles, that would make him 180 years old at his death.

The book of Genesis gives the total age of many of its early people. This is important for determining Job’s time in history. Genesis records very ancient ages at death for those living prior to the Flood of Noah. After the Deluge, human lifespans gradually decreased until they mirrored current ones. On that basis, a lifespan of around 180 years would place Job’s time element with that of Abraham who died at age 175 years (Gen. 25:7). Abraham is dated as living around 2000 years before Christ’s birth. So it appears that Abraham and Job lived about the same time, but not near each other.

Was Job a real person or merely a fictional man used for a spiritual lesson?

To some modern theologians, Job was not an actual person. To say this defies the interior evidence from the book itself. The book gives no reason to assume otherwise. 

What is the central issue or story of the book of Job?

Simply put: Job’s utter loss of family, possessions and fame is in contradiction to his unparalled obedience to God. In the book’s beginning, Job has seven sons and three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three hundred camels, five hundred oxen, five hundred donkeys and a multitude of servants. He is also called the greatest among all the people of the East. So, here’s a man of immense wealth and power that God expressly gives Satan permission to do with as he pleases short of harming his person.

Why would God give such permission to Satan?

The Bible presents it as a challenge from God to Satan to consider His righteous servant, Job, who is blameless and upright, avoids evil, and fears God. Satan counters God by saying that Job is only obedient because Job has been greatly blessed by God. Satan implies Job is only obedient to God to get blessings. Take them all away and Job will curse God, Satan brags.

So, God gives permission for Satan to take away all Job has, except Satan must not afflict Job’s person. Satan obliges by having Job’s animals stolen or destroyed by lightening, and a great wind caused the house to fall on his children and kill them all.

What was the result of Satan’s destruction? Did Job disavow God?

Just the opposite! Instead of charging God with wrong doing, Job utters some of the most amazing words of the entire book. 

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

So Satan’s accusation that Job was faithful to God only for profit was shown to be utterly wrong! Job never charged God with wrongdoing, in all this loss. Can you imagine how most people would react to such devastation? How would you?

But, that isn’t the end of it.  Satan still desired more.

Indeed. Chapter two of the book of Job proceeds to show another encounter of Satan with God. Again, God asks Satan to consider righteous Job. God said to Satan:

“He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job 2:3 

God clearly is telling Satan he misjudged Job’s ability to withstand hardship. Satan angrily responds by claiming Job would curse God once Job lost his health. And, once again, God gives Satan permission to plague Job’s health, short of death. 

“So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” Job 2:7

And, once again, Job comes through with flying colors, avoiding any accustion against God even in the face of his wife who unwisely tells him to curse God and die! Job’s response is again anything short of amazing:

“But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’” Job 2:10a

Then the writer of the book adds:

“In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10b

This is simply an amazing statement by Job. Are there yet any clues so far in the text to tell us why God would allow so many horrible things to happen to such a righteous man?

Actually there are two hints in what we have read of where this is all leading. The first significant statement is in God’s discourse with Satan the second time:

“And he [Job} still maintains his integrity….”

As time goes by in the book, Job’s obsession with his integrity become paramount. It is his key survival tool against anyone who tries to discover the reason for his losses and personal sufferings.

Hint number two is the Scripture just cited:

“In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.”

As we continue in the book of Job, it is immediately clear that Job’s outward words are only a veneer covering a very troubled mind. 

Job has three friends arrive to console him, but the counsel goes awry, correct?

Yes, very much so! These three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite arrived, apparently all from quite some distance. They immediately saw that Job was overwhelmed with sufferings. For a whole week all that they could do was sit with him in stone silence. It’s obvious from what is said next in Scripture that something radical has changed in Job’s verbalization of his plight:

“After this [the week ended] Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” Job 3:1

From chapters 3 through 31, Job shows his utter frustration and puzzlement at his life’s horrible plight. He has no clue why he has suffered total loss of health, family, material possessions and prestige. He knows that he has tried to keep all of God’s commands, and, in his eyes, did that very well. This agrees with God’s description of him when earlier God challenged Satan to find anyone better on all the earth. 

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had other ideas! They were committed to the belief that Job was being punished by God for a grievous sin he has intent to hide. After all, if you do good, aren’t you rewarded and if you do evil, punished? They incorrectly reason Job was hiding some secret sin. That’s why he was suffering such overwhelming losses.

Can you cite some examples of what his three friends specifically accused him of?

Eliphaz’s accusations of Job’s secret wrong doing and God’s justice in finding him out takes up all of chapters 15 and 22, if you wish to read them there. Eliphaz compares Job to a wicked man who cannot escape the punishment he deserves. God has surely brought Job to nothing for being unwilling to “confess up” his sins but instead he is bragging about all the good he has done.  

Bildad affirms what Eliphaz says about Job. In chapter 18, for example, Bildad insists Job can’t be righteous and suffer from the hands of God. His suffering has to be the result of his own wrong doing that he is hiding.

Zophar accuses Job of mocking God (11:3) and getting his just due. Later after God appears before Job.  God condemns all three friends for falsely accusing Job of things he did not do:

“After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Job 42:7

So, what exactly has Job been saying in his frustration of the situation?

The long discourses between Job and his three friends from chapter 3 through 31 can be summed up by saying Job is upholding his obedience to God [integrity] and his sincere desire to talk with God personally. Job is absolutely convinced that he has done nothing wrong to deserve such misery. In chapter 13, Job lamented:

Behold, I have prepared my case [Job has argued to his doubting three friends how he is hiding nothing from them]; I know that I shall be in the right [God will say that’s its been all one huge mistake].Who is there who will contend with me?...Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: withdraw your hand far from me, and let not dread of you terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.” (verses 18-22).

Ironically, Job’s desire to straighten this whole thing out with God personally to prove his innocence comes true in chapters 40-42!

How does God answer Job personally?

The method God appears to Job is surprising, indeed, shocking!

“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind….” Job 38:1

God came in great power and might! It was not a knock at the door and can we have a chat about this whole thing. No, the Creator of the universe came in a powerful way and told Job to:

“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” (38:3).

For the next three chapters, God reviews his mighty acts of Creation and asks Job where he was when this all happened (obviously, he was nowhere to be found). God describes His creative acts from things in outer space to the multitude of life forms on earth. None of which any man can begin to match in creative power.

I don’t understand. Why would God come to him in such power? Why not just sit down and calmly say how sorry He was that Job had suffered so much loss?

Great question! Here we get into the “why” of Job’s dilemma. It is why the book of Job is so enigmatic. Here’s the most righteous (i.e. God-fearing, law abiding) man on earth who has suffered loss of everything but his life. And God’s response is a review of His Creation that man cannot duplicate.

This is where we need to remember Job’s attitude. He has spent all his time bragging about how great his deeds have been; how he has the right to come before God and present his integrity as his iron-clad defense. God is showing Job how little he is compared to God. As a result, Job’s power and importance becomes totally insignificant!

Blessings do come from obedience. Later, in the time of the founding of the Old Covenant Israel, God lays out the blessings that will come from their obedience to His ways (See Deuteronomy 28) as well as the curses from disobedience (same chapter). Job’s problem was clearly not one of disobedience. His life story begins in the book by recounting all he had in blessings! There is clearly a grievous sin that has nothing to do with the outward obedience to God’s laws. 

How do you know this? And what was this grievous sin?

What is often overlooked in trying to understand the meaning of the book of Job is Job’s repentance in Job 42:1-6:

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. [Job then quotes what God said in Job 38:2] ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’  Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Remember that Job’s main argument is that his obedience [integrity]  is his strong defense. Therefore he believes fervently this has earned him the right to come before God and be cleared (justified) of any guilt that would have brought on himself such misery. His guilt was not what he did [as his 3 friends tried unsuccessfully to convince him] but rather what he thought his outward obedience to the law would earn him.

In short, Job committed one of the greatest sins of all: the sin of self-righteousness [self-importance]. He lacked humility. He believed he was on a level playing field with God because he outwardly keep the law. Yet, inwardly he had a lot of change needed. That’s why when Job repented, he could declare: “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

The book of Job actually points out his self-righteousness earlier in a couple of places:

“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.” (32:1).

“Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.” (27:5-6).

So the reason for God allowing Satan to afflict the most righteous man on earth at that time has profound implications for all humanity, right?

Incredibly so! How many times do people think they are justified [made right with God], because they have done X number of good deeds and great accomplishments. It is a fact that all the belief systems of the world teach in some way that we can, of ourselves, earn salvation. Only Christianity is radically different. It teaches what the Bible clearly says in Romans 3:19-30:

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it [This is not something new. It was never through law, but from the beginning through God’s mercy/grace]— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation [the act of regaining God’s favor lost by Adam’s sin] by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” 

Only Christianity teaches that our good deeds can’t save us. The good deeds are the outward evidence that faith produces. And, as Christians we are powered not merely by human willpower but the gift of God’s Spirit. The indwelling Spirit empowers us to do the works of God. A mere belief in God’s existence is not enough. It must produce what the Bible calls fruits of the Spirit.

James 2:14-17 makes this clear:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 

This reminds me of what St. Paul said about himself after his traumatic conversion experience on the road of Damascus. He was a strict Jew blamelessly following all the laws God gave at Mt. Sinai in the Old Covenant. Yet he came to realize after conversion that obedience to merely the letter of the law fell far short of what God wanted in the New Covenant brought by Christ.

Yes, absolutely. He was, in that way, similar to Job who blamelessly kept God’s laws in the outward expression, but until repentance and God’s grace, was ignorant of and powerless to obey inwardly. 

“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:4b-10)

So, Job’s experience of intense woe has profound meaning. Its meaning for us is not a secret or mystery.

The book of Job illustrates how even the most righteous person is not good enough without God’s grace made possible by the perfect Messiah. You can be the most righteous person on earth and still be missing the mark if you think your good works are sufficient to save you. It’s the oldest book and uses a man to illustrate how to regain God’s favor. God wanted people to know how we are to view good works in our relationship with Him. We must come to God on his terms, realizing that nothing we can do will get us right with Him. Our sins are too deep. Our door to salvation can only come from Him. It is a free gift received through faith in Christ our Redeemer.

That brings us to an interesting question. Didn’t Job say in the book that he acknowledged God as his Redeemer? Doesn’t that show he had the necessary faith?

This is important to understand. Job’s mention of his Redeemer does not contradict what the rest of the book of Job says. What appears to be a biblical contradiction, in reality, further shows how Job’s relationship with God was predicated on an erroneous basis. In biblical interpretation, one must always ask some critical questions. One of the first questions to ask is: what is the context of the verse(s)?

Let’s look at what Job said. His statement is made believing that his physical afflictions would probably takes his life. Job believed that his Redeemer would make it all right, even if he died without the mystery of his afflictions settled. His discourses with his friends had gotten nowhere. His appeal for God to clear him and pronounce his innocence would then come at his resurrection on the Last Day:

“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in [may also be translated “without”]  my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:23-27a

Today, when we read these scriptures, they have great meaning, particularly at funerals or on Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Based upon our view of Christ, who is our Redeemer, they ring true to His promises to us. He has redeemed us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

But, what about Job? When he spoke them, what was he thinking? Was he, at that time, thinking of Christ’s perfect life, obedience, and Resurrection? The way in which God would redeem His creation did not become fully known until after Christ came and returned to Heaven.

Remember, even Christ’s most intimate associates, the twelve apostles, did not comprehend Christ’s death and meaning until after His resurrection! Peter wanted to prevent Christ’s death. They were in fear and hiding after His death on the cross. Even when the women told them Christ had appeared to them and was risen, they still disbelieved! As we shall see from Scripture, Job only knew of a redeemer in another sense.

In the Old Testament times, Scripture reveals another ancient need for and use of a redeemer. 

Notice Leviticus 25:47-49:

“If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. 

The application of the law of kinsman-redeemer is made clear in the book of Ruth. Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth gives the details of how Boaz was willing to accept the role of kinsman-redeemer. He saved the family line of his deceased relative by marrying and having children by Ruth.

When Job spoke these wonderful words of a Redeemer, he was not looking for one to forgive his sins, but rather one to vindicate his righteousness – a redeemer to verify that he was innocent!  This is what Job sincerely believed with all his being!

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Who is there who will contend with me?  For then I would be silent and die.”  Job 13:15, 18-19

And Job seems to acknowledge this in his repentance:

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.  [Job then quotes God’ s earlier words to him] ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’  Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” Job 42:1-3

God’s display of His almighty power compared to Job’s convinced Job of his own smallness and insignificance. He was nothing in comparison with God! Job saw his need for repentance and humility in the face of this Mighty God.

Instead of proving how important his law-keeping (righteousness) was, he finally saw his need to repent in dust and ashes (an ancient way of showing remorse). His Redeemer would, indeed, redeem him, but it would be out of forgiveness and mercy!

So, Job unknowingly gives a prophecy of the Great Redeemer of all mankind, correct?

Yes, Job acknowledges that he had spoken of 

“...what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

The summation of the Book of Job is therefore an ancient and basic one:

JUSTIFICATION [getting right with God] IS THROUGH FAITH IN GOD ALONE!

What happened to Job after he repented and his trial of woe was past?

God does not willingly grieve or afflict us. It gives Him no pleasure. He allows such things to happen in our life for our ultimate good. In the case of self-righteous Job, after his sincere repentance and acknowledgment of God’s greatness, notice how the book of Job concludes:

“And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters.  And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days.” Job 42:12-17

God resumed his blessing on Job. Job now knew beyond all doubt that his future with God did not depend upon his accomplishments. Like St. Paul in New Testament times much later, Job realized how far short he had fallen, and his need of repentance and God’s mercy.  That’s a vital lesson for everyone to understand and acknowledge.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17