Some readers think that the book of Job has a happy ending and is consequently affirmative in tone. Some readers think that the ending does not compensate for the physical and mental suffering of Job, consequently the book is anything but affirmative in tone.
Often times we hear the phrase, “the patience of Job,” or “being tried as job.” Whenever I hear, I feel righteous indignation. Job’s saga is surreal and there is no record that anyone has ever been tried or suffered as much as he. After analyzing Job’s story, I have concluded that it has an affirmative tone.
Happily Satan leaves the presence of God, convinced that he is going to win this challenge. On that very day, Job is hit again, again, again, and again. First a messenger brings the bad news that his five hundred oxen and asses are stolen and all his servants are killed except the one who escape and gives Job the bad news. While the first messenger is yet speaking another messenger arrives to tell him that his seven thousand sheep along with his servants are consumed in a fire, and the only one speared is the messenger. Another messenger, the only one saved comes to tell Job that his three thousand camels were stolen. The communication any parents will never want to receive; your ten children are dead. This is enough news to destroy anyone, but not Job
These tidings are enough to give one gray hair immediately, to have psychological amnesia. The devil stood by waiting for Job’s outburst, but none was forthcoming. Instead, Job only affirms his position with the Lord and worshipped Him. “Naked come I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave and the lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job1:21). After all this the devil is astonished, Job still praises the Lord. This is no ordinary display of faith; a God-fearing person would applaud Job; while the person who does not have close communion with God would be screaming and cursing God on Job’s behalf.
At this juncture, despite the pain that puts my stomach in knots, I can say the story is beginning to have a happy ending. One may think that I am crazy or I am gruesome, but remember how this chronicle began. Job does not know that his troubles are a test of his allegiance to God. For a man to lose a part of his life-stock is painful; but Job had everything taken except his life and his wife.
The devil just will not accept the fact that Job still believes in God and still trusts Him. He has to do something to weaken Job’s faith; something to Job that is worse than death; he hits Job with the plague of leprosy.. The most excruciating pain that can be measured out to anyone is measured out to Job. He just does not understand why God allows this wretched illness to take position of him; and he tells Him so. After a long period of arguing with his friends and then with God, Job is restored to good health. The Lord blesses him as never before, he is twice as wealthy and he is given back his children; seven sons and three daughters. His daughters are the fairest in all the land. With everything restored to Job in two fold and more, I can say that the story does have an affirmative tone. Job came through great tribulations and his faith in God never weavers, even when he argues with God and questions Him. Job’s life is a testament to shame the devil and confirmation that God rewards faithfulness.
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I can really see Job enjoying his new brood of children and thinking how fortunate and blessed he is; serving the Lord is truly rewarding. Despite all his troubles I can imagine that Job is most envy in the land. I think the book of Job is recorded to show that faithfulness to God in the good times and in the bad times will eventually bring victory. As Helen Rice says; “Adversity, is what we make it”. As I follow the Job story; the pendulum of the story swings from side to side and if one is not careful he or she could prematurely conclude that the story is not a happy one and it does not bear an affirmative tone. “After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations” (Job 42:16KJM).
The story ends and Satan is still a liar. There has never been a story like Job’s. Out-living their children is one of the most traumatic experiences any parent will ever go through. To have all ten children taken at once, there is not any word in the English Language to describe such a feeling.
