Was Job Narcissistic?
 

We've all read or heard the story of Job. Most scholars believe the book was written by Job himself. Anyway, God allows Satan to bring financial and physical destruction upon Job to try and break him.

The moral is that God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. It is beyond our human ability to understand the "why's" behind all the suffering in the world. The wicked will receive their just dues. We cannot always blame our suffering and sin on our lifestyles. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach or strengthen the soul. God remains enough, deserves and requests our love and praise in all circumstances of life.

Someone brought up an interesting point to me the other day. What about Job's wife and children? What was God's plan for their lives? Aren't we all special and matter to God?

Was their life's purpose to only be an asterisk in Job's story? Why did God let them die so Satan could try to make a point to Job? Are we not all equal in God's eyes?

Was Job merely telling the story from his own personal narcissistic point of view? Or....are some of us asterisks in someone else's story?

Re: Was Job Narcissistic?
 

The Bible refers to Job as a perfect man. We tend to think of "perfection" as without human flaw. But, what human has no human flaw (except Jesus)? In studying the Book of Job, I have noticed a few things, one of which has been discussed here:


1. IMO, Job's children did not actually die in Chapter 1. Job was TOLD they died, but, in the final chapter, we find them very much alive. Job believed the messengers report that they had died and was filled with anquish. (Job 1:18)

2. I don't believe God is the kind of God that would kill a mans children to prove a point to the devil.

3. Job also spent a lot of time feeling sorry for himself. (Job 3). His friends suggest that his trial was God correcting him. Job 5:17 Job 8:6

4. Job spent alot of time defending his own rightousness. I find over 200 references where Job talks about HIS good deeds, HIS righteousness. Me, I, My, Myself...it seemed to be "all about Job". He was, in fact, a righteous man, but it seems he was a little too proud of that fact.

So, in the end, we find Job victorious over his trial. But, what was his victory? Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.. Job repented of his self-righteousness. He came to hate self. (Compare with Jhn 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.)

Narcissitic? I don't know about that. Self-righteous. Maybe.