JOB? Who wrote this Book? Is it a True Story? Was He Israeli? What ‘s the Purpose of it? What are Its Characteristics and its different Characters? Finally, What is the treasure learnt of it?
Preface
At the Five Books of Moses, Man finds out the Care of God, the Holy, for him. At the Historical Books, the believer realizes the plan of God as the Pantocrator of the History.
At the Poetic Books, the believer realizes, the Spiritual Concepts of the worship that it is a mutual Love relationship.
Hence, at JOB, man realizes during his great struggle, How he could pass over the Humane world to the Battle between God and Satan.
Introduction
This Book is the Book of all ages since, it treats the problem of pain that, man faces without, understanding the reason behind the wickedness causing it.
So, it introduces a unique model of bearing the righteous the pains in patience.
“You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord.” (JAMES 5:11)
Job and his friends were from the East, the land of Uz. His friends’ names were, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, finally, Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite.
This Book ‘s purpose is to announce the care of God to nations since, job was from nations.
The Holy Bible proves many times that man should suffer some disturbances in life, While as, he can find condolences.
At the midst, he should have a soul of persistence and willingness, realizing the power of the righteousness, which, defeat all the prevailing narrows, and looking forward to the promises of the eternal joyfulness.
This book is characterized by in addition to be revealed with, that it is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature also contains scientific facts that were discovered lately.
The writer of this Book is not known precisely, some sees that he is Job or Elihu. Some sees that it was Moses. Others see it was written by Jeremiah or Isaiah or Baruch, some sees it was Solomon.
Unfortunately, some though it is just a folklore news.
It is realistic story because the Hebrew writers were not of a kind to reveal the stories of their heroes by imagination or chance, but they were always building it from the real.
A second reason is that this book determined the position of Job at the land of Uz. Also, it determined the names of his friends and their personalities. Finally, the dialogue that happened Between God and Satan.
Job
“There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (JOB1:1)
Origen Adamantius sees that: “lots are called men but they are beasty animals and not truly men as God created them”.
The word man in the language of the Holy Bible is not that who has hands and feet and not who is sensible but means that he who practices righteousness and virtue in courage.
Saint Ambrosius says: “Blameless has two shapes one, is held here, and the other later on, only God is blameless in all.”
“And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.” (JOB1:4)
“So it was, when the days of feasting had run, that Job would sanctify them, and he would rise early in and offer burnt offerings of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did regularly.” (JOB 1:5)
So, All of his family was gathered on the spirit of love and unity with the good procurement and make feast successively with their sisters and Job was not go to it asking for the happiness of his sons.
not only so but also he was jealous for their salvation sanctifying them and offering burnt offerings as a priest for his family.
And he was doing this regularly since it would be invalid the goodness if we stopped doing it before the end of our lives.
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” (JOB 1:6)
And the Lord said to Satan , “From where did you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and from on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (JOB1:7)
The angels-Sons of God- were gathering before Him, presenting the praises suitable to Him for His love to humans and angels, introducing the prayers of believers, waiting for any mission to carry it out.
But, at once, Satan sneaked and came among them to complain against the mankind.
Please, dear reader observe what the Verse says, “he came among them.”. Yes he could come but could not see God. Also, the verse said, walking on earth, meaning that he has limits he can’t penetrate since, his sin made him, walk and not to fly and he is always down!
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there’s none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” (JOB 1:8)
This dialogue uncovers the mutual love between God and the believer and the proud of God to Job; “none like him on earth”. Also uncovers that the battle is between God and Satan not between Satan and Job.
But for that God surly knows that Job would succeed He would not deliver him to Satan.
Satan was truly foolish to testify the integrity of Job that he is blameless getting this testimony from God, Himself!!!
“So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you made a hedge around him, his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (JOB 1:9-10)
“But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (JOB 1:11)
So, Satan slandered against him and in boldness challenged God as the wicked man does too; “For I feared you, because you are an austere man.” (LUKE 19:21). This verse also, confirms, a confession of Satan, that, the source of the security of Job is God.
Also, it is so clear that Satan can do nothing to him and the proof that he asked God to stretch out His hand. Yes, Satan could envy him, but, could not harm him.
“And the Lord said to Satan , “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not lay a hand on his person.” (JOB 1:12)
This confirms that Satan who seems to have a great power upon our lives, is Truly, having nothing to do without permission.
Usually, the Godly care permits for narrows to happen to us for revealing the righteousness and virtue of us. and for our love to God to be justified and for so, to be a witness.
Gregory the Great says: “This verse means that God knew that his soldier is courage and is victorious over the circumstances for he is a brave wrestler. And that the enemy would be defeated from one combat.”
Successive Hits
“Then He would permit for another battle to defeated again, and for who, follows Him honestly, to be victorious on a non-comparable way!”
First Hit
“Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding, when the Sabeans raided them_ indeed they have killed the servants.” (JOB1:13-15)
“Another also said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and and burned up the sheep and the servants. Another also said, “The Chaldeans raided the camels and took them away and killed the servants””.(JOB1:16-17)
“Another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking and suddenly a great wind came from across and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead.” (JOB 1:18-19)
Please, observe the timing of the temptation, it, was chosen during the eating and drinking. This was planned by God to benefit us that enjoying the complete joys is a way for prevailing the disasters on us! (Gregory the Great).
Saint Ambrosius says; “A lot of the bad and wicked matters we suffer from, are becoming an opportunity for our growth on virtues.”
The disasters were so fast and successive for Preventing Job from any balanced thinking to make him thinking it is God!
If nowadays a young man lost his fellow, he might be thinking, why God did so? if he exists where is his mercy and care? And it seems as if the enemy of goodness on each generation seeks to convert the humane energies to curse God!
“Saint John Chrysostom” sees that, “The fire of God fell from heaven.” This to reveal to Job that it is God.
“Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head ; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. (JOB 1:20-21)
” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” (JOB1:22)
The reaction of him towards all of these is to worship and thank God to convince the Traitor; Satan that He invalidly slandered him before God.
So, we also should thank and praise the Lord who may examine us in fiery furnace instead of blaspheming or complaining.
He has been crowned and became famous because he did not shake internally, despite of the temptation and the resistance of his wive and also because of his persistence in thanking God.
The Devil causes losses for us not to remove our possessions but to enforce us to blaspheme. Although he was rich, he showed clearly that he owned nothing but God.
He did not say the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away only but he completed, saying, Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Second Hit
“But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (JOB 2:5)
“And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” ” (JOB 2:6)
Meaning, that, the temptation has a limit which, is preserving his soul to detect the weakness to make him humble and not to, exceed such limit out of the power of man making him fall into desperate or discourage bearing his soul into death in his sins because of lack of faith.
“So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (Job 2:7)
His Wife
“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? curse God and die!” ” (JOB 2:9)
The enemy used to hit believers with their family members as he did with Adam making use of Eve and with David making use of Michal who despised him in her heart.
“But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all these Job did not sin with his lips.” (JOB 2:10)
So, he in his hard times was more cautious than Adam on the throne of his happiness, one was beaten in the middle of joys, but the other overcame in the middle of his own pains.
Saint John Chrysostom says, “He was blessed more than any one since he did not sin but instead became steadier despite of the annoying of his wife with all of these pains, he sparkled on everything.”
Also, Saint John says, “The wife is a great goodness, but she might be dangerous wickedness since Satan wanted to make use of her to sneak inside the strong wall.”
The three friends and his answers
“Now when his three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place-Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept.” (JOB 2:11,12)
“After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” (JOB 3:1)
For all sorry, he looked for his day of birth as the worst in history and forgot the past goodness of all his life.
Then, what prevailed to him is prevailing to many people when the time of the narrow extends for long.
When the eternal meeting with the Lord coming unto the clouds of the sky getting far away from our insight, even for short moments, we feel the world is so small and that we invalidly were created.
“Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be purer than his Maker? (JOB4:17)
The message came to rebuke him because of his complain, since he cannot claim that he is more righteous than God.
“For He bruises, but He, binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.” (JOB 5:18)
“Then he answered and said: “Oh, that my grief was fully weighed, and my calamity laid with it on the scales!” (JOB6:1)
“Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: “How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? Does God subvert judgement? Or does the Almighty prevent justice?” (JOB 8:1-3)
Saint John Chrysostom sees that Bildad propelled in attacking him powerfully, since he did not slow down and keep silent behold what Job said was a natural reaction for his severe pains and experiment.
“Then Job answered and said: “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?” (JOB 9:1-2)
“Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both.” (JOB9:33)
This complain of Job represents the scream of all the mankind since its falling down. since, she needs a truthful mediator, she can resort to, to return man to the Godly embracing. Behold, the only mediator is our Lord Jesus Christ, only, without sins, capable of making peace ableness between God the Father, and man.
“You have granted me life and favor, and your care has preserved my spirit.” (JOB 10:12)
Even if, we complain from what comes from God, we resort to Him. He permits for narrow to learn resorting to Him since, He created us to enjoy Him, not to complain.
“Then Zophar the Namathite answered and said: “Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be vindicated?”” (JOB 11:1-2)
Eliphaz started his dialogue in a great silence, Bildad was more Hader, then Zophar came to attack him powerfully with no mercy.
Saint Augustin says that reprimand should be preceded by mercy not angry.
“Then Job answered and said: “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.”” (JOB 12:1)
Firstly, because their cruelness was without wisdom. Secondly, they delude themselves that they monopolize the wisdom. Thirdly, they though that their death would make wisdom dies with them. Fourthly, they seemed like the heretics relying on their humane wisdom rather than the spiritual churchlike thinking.
“I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, the just and blameless who is ridiculed.” (JOB 12:4)
So, he found out that they treat him with a great contempt putting their feet upon him to be a good material of their mock and amusement rather than supporting him seriously.
“So, these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.” (JOB 32:1)
Then, the three friends stopped talking to him. since they saw that he is righteous in his own eyes. So, no use of talking to him. But, in fact they failed in their accusation, because they bore a dishonest intention in their hearts and thoughts.
Elihu; the young man
“Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job, his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also, against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.” (JOB 32:2-3)
The wrath of Elihu against him was not because that he announced his righteousness, but rather, he did that before God and thought to condemn God to justify himself.
And his wrath against the three friends was because, they failed to answer the reasonings of Job generally and in justifying himself and that they did so without any compassion with a man experiencing great pains.
“So, Elihu answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore, I was afraid and dared not declare my opinion to you.” (JOB32:6)
“Surely you have spoken to my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words, saying. ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.” (JOB 33:8-9)
“Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give any accounting of any of His words.”(JOB 33:12-13)
It is good for man to trust the love of God and His Fathering, Wisdom and power and to accept everything from His Hand in joyfulness and trust as the child accepts everything from his parents, understanding their plans for him a day after day.
“For God may speak in one way, or in another; Yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon man, while slumbering on their beds.” (JOB 33:14-15)
It may be understood that God talked to him a lot when he was prosperous, behold, he did not observe the intentions of God nor His Words. God is always talking to us in terms of pains or narrows to purify us so that, we may see Him apparently in our lives.
Previously, he himself said” “Then You may scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.” (JOB 7:14)
So, it should be better for him to realize that God Wanted to give him certain message through those dreams and visions
When, man be in quietness far from the confusions of the life and the daily workings as a man in a slumbering, he can clearly listen to the Godly voice in the middle of the quiet internal thoughts and affectivities.
“In order to turn man from the dead and conceal pride from man. He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.” (JOB 33:17-18)
Behold, the nature of the man has been spoiled, he became busier with sin and his mind full of pride, God permits for disciplines and imprint it to draw the believer out of his sin and enjoying the righteousness of God and conceals pride from his soul not to sneak to his heart and thoughts rather to live in humbleness.
So, pride is a very dangerous Pit a lot of religious people are falling into, So, God covers it till believers not to fall in.
As to the wicked people, who, are exerting all of their efforts to achieve their wicked goals and satisfying their own prides, they, fall into the Pit of their prides and die in the present world and the coming time. Even though, God, interferes by all means He Has by letting disciplines come for, saving them from the eternal death.
“If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, to show man his uprightness. Then He is a gracious to him and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit, I have found a ransom ‘, His flesh shall be young like a child’s. He shall return to the days of the youth.” (JOB 33:23-25)
So, we get free by the Almighty Saviour, the Mediator between man and God, the man Jesus Christ, to show His Mercy upon man through His Tenderness saying to His Father for the account of the saved man, set him free from getting down into the corruption.
Through the Redemption we enjoy the new birth, and the believer becomes a new creature.
“He shall pray to God, and he will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy. For he restores to man His righteousness. (JOB 33:26)
With that new birth the believer enters a new relation with God as a son having a strong function with Him praying, confessing, praising and thanking.
“Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me” (JOB 33:27)
Some people admit they are sinners externally by only words defending themselves powerfully and violently when others attack them to gain a good reputation, but the true believers are accusing themselves of their behavior from the depths of their hearts.
“He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light.” (JOB 33:28)
So, this is the praise of those coming from the great narrow, Behold, they praise God for His supreme mercy that raised them from the Pit of hell to the Highest Jerusalem, passing them from the kingdom of darkness to settle in His eternal holdings.
“He does not preserve the life of the wicked but gives justice to the oppressed.” (JOB36:6)
As, the wicked people think they can live by raping other people’s rights, enjoying materials and ironing the righteous people, they are really do not live, rather, the eternal death prevails in their lives. As for the humble righteous although, having myrrh lives for the narrows, they absolutely will enjoy the Godly justice.
The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; Iwill question you, and you shall answer Me.” (JOB 38:1-3)
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?” (JOB 38:4-5)
Job's Repentance and Restoration
“Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.”” (JOB 42:1-2)
“You asked, ‘who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (JOB42:3)
“I have heard of You by hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” (JOB42:5)
“And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your friends, for you have not spoken of Me, what’s right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you.” (JOB42:7,8)
“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (JOB42:10)
“Source” HOLY BIBLE NKJV. Arabic New van Dyck text C. The Bible Society of Egypt. Fifth Edition Third print2019.ISBN 978-1-84364-188-9. Printed in China.
“Reference” Father Priest Tadros Jacob Malti, Job, Egypt, Abba Rewis Print.
Edited by Tawfik, S. (2025). Job’s impressive patience sermon. www.orthodox-beliefs.site
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