We hear that the story of Job is one of patience. Is it really? I would suggest that Job is patient in that he does not reject God; Job remains faithful. However, Job is anything but patient in his questioning and agonizing over his suffering.

The story of Job is one of the oldest stories in the Bible. The theme behind the story presents an ancient human question: Why do bad things happen to good people? In religious circles, we call this the study of theodicy: given a good God, why do the innocent suffer?

It's a simple story. From the very first chapter and verse we learn that “Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.” Job had everything a person could want: children, land, animals, servants. Life was good. Job prayed in gratitude to God.

Then “the heavenly beings presented themselves to the Lord and Satan among them” (Job 1:6). As the conversation progresses, there seems to be doubt that Job would continue to honor God if he lost his wonderful life. In a matter of days, all of Job’s property, animals, and family perish. Then Job is inflicted with “loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7). In all this, Job did not renounce God.

Job’s three friends appear. They sat with him “on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great” (Job 2:13). It would have been a great display of friendship and comfort if the friends had stopped at that. However, as friends often feel compelled to do, they attempt to explain why this suffering came to Job.

The first friend says, “Hey, Job, don’t disregard the discipline of God. You should be happy God cares enough to change your ways.” The second friend has another explanation: it was your kids. They were the scoundrels, and you are paying for it!

The third friend simply says, “God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” (Job 11:6). All three friends believe that Job must have done something to deserve this suffering.

Job continues to wonder “why this happened to me.” It’s a question many people have voiced over the generations. After Job and his three friends have exhausted the conversation, another person named Elihu steps in. He is angry that the three friends “had no answer” and that Job does not understand the majesty of God.

God speaks (Job 38-41). Finally. Now we will find out why bad things happen to good people. The words that God speaks, however, are anything but satisfying for someone who wants a specific “why” answer. God says, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4) or “Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars and spreads its wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26). God says to Job, “I am God, and you are not.”

Job’s story does have a happy ending. His property and family are restored. God accepts a prayer from Job for his friends so that they aren’t dealt with “according to their folly.”

Can we modern people learn from this ancient story? Yes, I would suggest:

• Sometimes friends sit and listen.
• Sometimes there are no good answers to why bad things happen.
• It is okay to wonder why and be angry at God.
• After all, God is God, and I am not.