When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Just a few last comments on Job, begun on a previous post.

One could argue that Job is the poster boy for the sentiment of Rabbi Kushner's book: When Bad Things Happen to Good People. I never read this book and it's probably just as well, for the true paradox is quite the opposite. Why do GOOD things happen to BAD (sinful) people?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

I have never experienced the depth of loss that Job felt. And yet I've found that it's easy to wallow in self-pity, thinking more highly of myself than I ought. It's difficult to accept troubles and trials with humble gratitude towards God, especially when it appears that others around us are not in similar situations. But, our Lord tells us not to compare ourselves to others. We are to keep our eyes fixed upon the Savior and follow Him.

Then Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved...[and] said to Jesus, "But Lord what about this man?"

Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."
John 21: 20-22 (NKJV)

Then Job Answered the Lord...

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.
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,
Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'

"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42: 1-6 (NKJV)


(Public domain clip art comes from http://breadsite.org.)

Then the Lord Answered 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;
I will question you and you shall answer me."
Job 38: 1-3 (NKJV)

So begins the first of the two discourses which God delivers to Job. Just when you think Job could use a little TLC, he gets hit instead with the stark reality of who God is.

God, help me to keep silent when I lack knowledge. Help me to 'prepare myself like a man' and to answer You.

(Public domain clip art from http://breadsite.org.)

Of Vines and Such

Compare the unwise and uncaring "advice" of Eliphaz to Job regarding wicked men (which, in Eliphaz's opinion, include Job), with the words of our Lord in John.


[The wicked man's] branches will not flourish.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.
Job 15:32b-33 (NIV)


"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
John 15: 1-4 (NKJV)



Dear Lord,
Thank you for your mercy. You don't leave us alone to rot in the garden. You don't leave us alone to wither in the scorching sun. You don't leave us alone to be attacked by unrelenting winds and snow. Instead, painful though it sometimes is, you prune us to bear more fruit. You, the perfect Gardener, allow us to abide in You. Because of you, we are clean.