JOB 1
JOB LOSES HIS FAMILY + LIVESTOCK
Job was a wealthy and prosperous man living in the land of Uz who loved God and lived in a way that was blameless and upright. He had seven sons and three daughters, as well as a huge household staff. Job’s home was one of feasts and parties and merriment. Each day, Job would offer a sacrifice to God as a sin offering in case any of his children sinned accidentally. Job was very faithful and diligent.
After introducing Job, the story shifts to a conversation between God and one of His adversaries, Satan. Satan believes that Job is only faithful because God has blessed him with an abundant life.
God does not inflict suffering upon Job but allows Satan to test him. Satan does this by sending fire and wind, killing all of his children and livestock. Job’s most valuable possessions, the ones Satan accused him of loving more than God, were gone completely. In this time of desperation, Job responds with incredible humility; he does not sin due to his losses and does not blame or curse God, but instead worships. Job trusts God and honors His authority to both give and take away.
JOB 2
JOB LOSES HIS HEALTH
Satan's next test against Job threatens his health and leaves him covered in painful boils. Job is miserable, having now lost everything including his well-being. Job’s wife blames God and wants Job to curse God for causing his loathsome life, but Job remains faithful.
Job has three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who travel to meet him in his time of mourning. For the first seven days, Job’s friends are respectful of Job’s suffering and sit with him in silence.
JOB 3
JOB SPEAKS AFTER SEVEN DAYS OF SILENCE
After seven days of silent suffering, Job curses the day he was born, regretting his life and longing for death. Job laments his turmoil, claiming he is too miserable to rest.
Job 3:25: For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.
JOB 4 + 5
ELIPHAZ RESPONDS TO JOB
Eliphaz, Job’s friend, attempts to share his experience with Job but does not give encouraging advice. Eliphaz insinuates that Job brought all this trouble on himself because those who are righteous are rewarded and those who are wicked and sinful suffer.
Instructing his friend not to despise the discipline of God, Eliphaz blames Job’s actions for his misfortune. Eliphaz believes that God always operates with justice, meaning that Job somehow got what he deserved and needs to repent.
JOB 6
JOB DEFENDS HIS INNOCENCE
Job responds to Eliphaz, defending himself and telling Eliphaz that he is innocent. Job believes that his suffering is not caused by God’s wrath.
Job expresses his desire to die, knowing he has not been unfaithful or disobedient to God. Job questions Eliphaz, asking him what he could have possibly done to deserve this miserable life.
JOB 7
JOB EXPERIENCES MISERY DAY + NIGHT
Job expresses his misery and pain, describing his life as hopeless with no relief. Throughout the day, Job is suffering and in pain, receiving no relief at night when he is also uncomfortable and tormented. He wonders why God would allow this to happen to him and asks what he has done to deserve his misery.
JOB 8
BILDAD SPEAKS HIS MIND
Another of Job’s friends, Bildad, offers his perspective on Job’s situation. Like Eliphaz, Bildad believes that God operates out of strict justice. Bildad claims that the death of Job’s children must have been a rebuke for their transgressions.
Bildad argues that God would not reject a blameless man and cause this much strife for someone without sin. Bildad believes that no good can come to someone who turns away from God.
JOB 9
JOB RESPONDS TO BILDAD
Job replies to Bildad, providing truth about God and his character. Job knows that God is faithful to the righteous, although he wonders how someone can be righteous before God in a broken world. Although Job is a faithful person, he cannot be completely without sin compared to God’s perfection. Job says that he needs an arbiter, or someone to stand between him and God, to settle his sin. Job sees his need for a savior long before the life of Jesus!
Job believes that his friends' views of God are too limited and that none of them can comprehend God’s vastness and power. Job argues that because God created the universe, he can trust that God knows best how to rule it.
JOB 10
JOB QUESTIONS HIS PURPOSE
Job continues in his response to Bildad, as well as praying and pleading to God. Job knows that God is his creator, but questions his purpose as his life has deteriorated.
Job describes his gloom as a thick darkness over his life. Job experienced depression and despair, but continues to trust God and remain faithful in his doubt and concern.
JOB 11
ZOPHAR SHARES HIS OPINION
As Job’s friends speak to him, each offers a harsher opinion of Job’s fate. Job’s friend Zophar now offers his opinion. Zophar rebukes Job for claiming to be upright and blameless and believes that Job is getting less judgment from God than he deserves, saying that the evil are short-lived.
Zophar tells Job that if he repents, God can restore his health and his blessings. Although Zophar understands God’s response to repentance and mercy, he blames Job for his unfortunate reality.
JOB 12
JOB REMAINS FAITHFUL AMIDST DOUBT
Job responds to Zophar, declaring that he has become the laughingstock of his friends for attempting to live in righteousness and ending up in suffering.
Throughout Job’s responses, his emotions fluctuate drastically, shifting from praising God to wishing for death. Job remains faithful, but contemplates his doubts and confusion with God.
JOB 13
JOB WISHES TO PLEAD HIS CASE BEFORE GOD
Job continues to respond to Zophar saying that he is confident in his relationship with God, wanting to stand before Him and plead his case. Job does not understand what God is doing and why he is suffering, but continues to place his hope in God.
JOB 14
JOB CONTEMPLATES HIS FLEETING LIFE
Job continues in his response to Zophar. Job’s words are similar to those of the book of Ecclesiastes as he contemplates his short and fleeting life. Job reflects on the vapid nature of humanity and acknowledges that death awaits everyone. He cannot comprehend how his suffering could affect God's greater plans and dwells on his own misfortune.
JOB 15
MORE THEORIES FOR JOB’S SUFFERING
Each of Job’s three friends responds to Job again, offering up more theories about his suffering. First, Eliphaz accuses Job of making worthless arguments and pointless observations. Eliphaz continues to argue that Job has caused his suffering through sin and that his grief is a sign of distrust in God.
JOB 16
JOB CALLS OUT HIS FRIENDS
Job replies to Eliphaz, calling out his miserable attempt at support or encouragement. Job’s friends do not bring comfort to him in his time of need, but instead, they literally add insult to injury.
Job wrestles with the idea that God is the source of his pain. Job is feeling defeated and confused, but remains faithful and does not turn to violence or disobedience.
JOB 18
BILDAD CONTINUES TO BLAME JOB
Bildad responds again, arguing that God punishes the wicked and that Job is not the exception to the rules. Bildad casts blame on Job, saying he walked into a trap that he set up himself. Job’s friends are neither empathetic nor compassionate to Job’s situation and don’t consider his input.
JOB 19
JOB CLINGS TO HIS REDEEMER
Even in horrible circumstances, Job believes that God is his redeemer and claims that his redeemer lives and will stand upon the earth!
Job reflects on his previous wealth and success compared to his now bleak situation. He describes this change as being stripped of glory and having the crown taken from his head. Little does Job know that one day his redeemer will be stripped of his glory in heaven and given a crown of thorns. Job’s faithfulness in suffering foreshadows the humility and faithfulness of Jesus.
Job’s story is a reminder that God never promised bad things won't happen to good people. Instead, it points to the life of Jesus, the best person who suffers the worst death.
Job 19:25 - I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
JOB 20
ZOPHAR CONTINUES TO BE A DISCOURAGING PRESENCE
Zophar responds to Job a second time, still convinced that the wicked will suffer for their sin. Zophar does not encourage Job but instead accuses him of greed and selfishness, saying the wicked will always suffer because of their pride and wrongdoing.
JOB 21
JOB CHALLENGES HIS FRIEND’S BLACK + WHITE THINKING
Job responds by asking why some of the wicked live to reach old age and grow mighty in wealth and power. Job disputes Zophar’s argument by pointing out that sometimes the wicked do succeed and that good things often happen to bad people. While Job’s friends think only in terms of black and white, he sees the nuance in different situations.