I think a lot of stories are inspired by real events, and Job could be one of those. Perhaps there was a very good man who was very well off, but suddenly struck with tragedy, perhaps with friends who tried to explain it, and maybe a wife who told him to curse God and die, etc. etc. Someone padded the story with God bragging about Job and Satan challenging Him and several chapters of God bragging about Himself and belittling Job, when Job was at the lowest point of his life. (And what are we to learn of God's character from this? )
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I think a lot of stories are inspired by real events, and Job could be one of those. Perhaps there was a very good man who was very well off, but suddenly struck with tragedy, perhaps with friends who tried to explain it, and maybe a wife who told him to curse God and die, etc. etc. Someone padded the story with God bragging about Job and Satan challenging Him and several chapters of God bragging about Himself and belittling Job, when Job was at the lowest point of his life. (And what are we to learn of God's character from this? )
Your idea of the Word of God being inspired by God is sure different from mine.
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Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Well, thank you, Esther, for reviving a very good discussion. Actually, it was Timmy who brought up the thought that the Book of Job could be an allegory. I've heard that before and it is worth considering. It could have been. Whether it was a viable historical event or a parable doesn't take away from the fact that it is an important Book that has significant spiritual applications. And it does teach us a great deal about the heart and nature of God.
My point was that, while we have been taught all of our lives that Job's children died in the first chapter, I find no evidence to support that conclusion. My theory, and its just that- a therory- is that Job was lied to concerning his children. They did not die. Satan deceived Job for the purpose of "testing" his loyalty to God. This brings up the reason we have trials and tribulations. To strengthen our resolve to remain loyal to God and to help us see, and correct, our human fallacies. This was the case with Job. thru out the Book, Job refers to HIS goodness, HIS righteousness about 200 times. In the end, his real victory was that he came to hate himself (his human nature) and caused him to repent of it. Thats the purpose of the Book, IMO. To help us do some self-inspection, or as the NT writer put it, to "examine our selves to see whether we be in the faith". tThe Book of Job is just that: Jobs self-examination to ferret out those human fallacies that could lead to disloyalty to God.
The root of the whole discussion was Timmy's questions regarding Satan's power. I submitted that Satan's one and only power is to decieve. Deception is a powerful weapon- THE most powerful weapon there is.
OA do you have any proof that they did not die?
I agree with you that satan is a deceiver. As to the purpose of the book, I think you have a great point there.
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Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
Your idea of the Word of God being inspired by God is sure different from mine.
Of course. But, inspired or not, literal or not: what are we to learn about God's character from this? Did I characterize the story wrong somehow? Did God brag about Job in chapter 1? Did He brag about himself for several chapters near the end? Did he belittle Job? Was Job at a low point?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Of course. But, inspired or not, literal or not: what are we to learn about God's character from this? Did I characterize the story wrong somehow? Did God brag about Job in chapter 1? Did He brag about himself for several chapters near the end? Did he belittle Job? Was Job at a low point?
"Someone padded the story with God bragging about Job and Satan challenging Him and several chapters of God bragging about Himself and belittling Job, when Job was at the lowest point of his life. (And what are we to learn of God's character from this? )"
This was your post. I bolded the part I have a problem with. Plus I would not say He was bragging.
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Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.
"Someone padded the story with God bragging about Job and Satan challenging Him and several chapters of God bragging about Himself and belittling Job, when Job was at the lowest point of his life. (And what are we to learn of God's character from this? )"
This was your post. I bolded the part I have a problem with. Plus I would not say He was bragging.
Ah, I see. Well, the "someone" could be God!
Not bragging? What would you say He was doing, then, talking about how He, and not Job, created everything etc.?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
On the subject of the Book of Job being allegorical, forget the character called "Satan" in the drama and consider the one called "God."
Are we comfortable with a deity who throws away the lives of Job's children in order to win a bet? I read about a man in Wisconsin recently who threw away the life of his diabetic daughter on a similar wager - and he's looking at serious prison time.
And don't forget - Job never got an answer from God. The "curtain" was never thrown back revealing heaven's parlor game. Job was left to ponder the deepest of mysteries along with his readers. But Job was able to find a higher meaning and purpose for deity than the idea of God as a Supernatural bickering with another supernatural being.
And thus, Job justified God and God justified Job. Sounds like a good basis for a friendship, allegorical or otherwise.
On the subject of the Book of Job being allegorical, forget the character called "Satan" in the drama and consider the one called "God."
Are we comfortable with a deity who throws away the lives of Job's children in order to win a bet? I read about a man in Wisconsin recently who threw away the life of his diabetic daughter on a similar wager - and he's looking at serious prison time.
And don't forget - Job never got an answer from God. The "curtain" was never thrown back revealing heaven's parlor game. Job was left to ponder the deepest of mysteries along with his readers. But Job was able to find a higher meaning and purpose for deity than the idea of God as a Supernatural bickering with another supernatural being.
And thus, Job justified God and God justified Job. Sounds like a good basis for a friendship, allegorical or otherwise.
If one is in a cynical mood while reading this, it is easy to compare what happens in Job between God and Satan to Randolph and Mortimer ruining a mans life for a one dollar bet. "I say it is heredity!", "Well, I say it is environment! Shall we make our usual wager?"
As far as the man who risked his daughters life in Wisconsin, have you read any of their blog posts? They've made themselves into the victims being persecuted by the state (and satan) for THEIR "minister". It is all about them -their daughter is forgotten -or has even gotten sick because of HER sins.
If one is in a cynical mood while reading this, it is easy to compare what happens in Job between God and Satan to Randolph and Mortimer ruining a mans life for a one dollar bet. "I say it is heredity!", "Well, I say it is environment! Shall we make our usual wager?"
Classic movie....had to love the come back in Coming To America....
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