To catch up on the posts in this series that you may have missed, they are all indexed here.

On Monday we looked at the fact that Job’s friends had a view of God that was too small – they were operating from a perspective of “retribution theology,” which basically means that righteousness will always result in prosperity, sin will always result in suffering and poverty.  Their wrong assumptions about the nature and ways of God caused them to accuse Job of wrongdoing, when in reality Job was suffering because of Satan’s attack upon this faithful God-fearer.

Now today we’re going to take a look at Job’s response to his suffering.  It seems that many of us have been taught to view Job as the hero of this story.  The thing is, he does respond in faith and worship at the beginning of the book (as we discussed last week)… but he falters.  Never forget that the Bible is not about people!

When we were going through the first few chapters, did these verses jump out at you?

1:22 – In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
2:10 – In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Those are very specific statements!  When the “narrator” of a Biblical account makes specific, recurring statements like this, take notice!  There’s a reason!

As the dialogue between Job and his friends unfolds, we clearly see Job’s friends’ wrong theology showing up.  Unfortunately, we also see some things in the dialogue from Job which should raise a red flag.

Job 9:14-17
“How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?

Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.

Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.

Job 13:3

But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God.

Job 13:17-23
Listen carefully to my words;
let your ears take in what I say.

Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
Can anyone bring charges against me?
If so, I will be silent and die.

“Only grant me these two things, O God,
and then I will not hide from you:

Withdraw your hand far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.

Then summon me and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you reply.

How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.

Job 19:6-9

…then know that God has wronged me
and drawn his net around me.

Though I cry, ‘I’ve been wronged!’ I get no response;
though I call for help, there is no justice.

He has blocked my way so I cannot pass;
he has shrouded my paths in darkness.

He has stripped me of my honor
and removed the crown from my head.

You see, Job was also operating from retribution theology.