The question regarding suffering is one of the most challenging and difficult for perception. Christianity is focused on the evaluation of the reality of suffering. The major purpose of the paper is to provide an analysis of the justice of punishment in the Book of Job.
The Book of Job raises a significant problem of suffering and pain. It is one of the most known examples of undeserved suffering. The main character in the book is Job, a rich and God-fearing man that has lost everything in a couple of hours. He lost his property, children, and health. He could not get support from any of the relatives as even his wife refused to support the husband. Moreover, she gave Job a piece of advice; she highlighted that blasphemy is the only option for her husband, and he should commit suicide afterward. The disappointment and pain became deeper when he realized that friends convict and judge him. However, aside from all the stated above, the most painful fact for Job was that even God forgot about him and did not answer Job and refused to help him.
Job suffered not only materially and spiritually, but physically and morally as well. As a matter of fact, everyone was against him, even God himself who was fairly served by Job. It should be highlighted that Job was not a vicious man, spiritually, and morally (Job 1:1,8; 2:3). Can anyone imagine the suffering that is so undeserved? Should not God bless such a righteous man? The story regarding the suffering of Job, who was a noble, generous, wealthy, honest, and just person, had so much and has lost everything, raises the question concerning the nature of suffering. However, the answer to this issue seems to be complicated.
There is hardly a man in the world who can comprehend the sense of misery with ease; however, it is even more difficult for a person that gets the punishment undeserved. If the pain is not perceived by a person as the punishment for the sin, it discourages and confuses. The book of Job is centered on this question and aims to highlight that suffering and punishment are acceptable not only for people who committed sins as God may have other objectives apart from punishing for the sin.
The book of Job is also focused on the question regarding the attitude towards suffering. The experience of Job proves that the person that believes in God should be faithful, even facing a tragedy and challenges. The person may ask God what he had done to get such a punishment, in case the individual does not understand the reason for it. However, blasphemy is not acceptable. It is worth stating that Job was almost ready to decry God; however, he did not do it. For the strength and faith, God helped Job, and he lived peacefully for 140 years.
In conclusion, it should be pointed out that the Book of Job teaches that it is not a sin to ask God “why” and “what for”, however, it is a sin to address God in a demanding voice, trying to talk to the Creator on the same level (Job 3:11-12,16,20). God has unlimited power over a human being, and a person should never demand but be faithful and noble.
Work Cited
Mitchell, Stephen. The Book of Job. New York: Harper Collins, 2009. Print.