There was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
Job 1:1 (NLT)
What can be learned from a biblical character that lived almost five millennia ago? Many might say “nothing,” but I beg to differ! The story of Job plumbs the depths of tragedy and loss, only to return the reader to Job’s full restoration and influence. You might say he’s the “comeback kid” of the ancient world! It’s a story worth following.
With this in mind, let’s examine the biblical character of Job and see what we can glean. To begin, let’s start with an overview of the book, its contents, and settings. Cultural settings speak great volumes.
The literary content of the book of Job fits into the Old Testament category known as biblical poetry. By poetry, we’re not referring to the Western genre of rhyme and meter, but rather the Hebraic model of storytelling and thought.
The book itself is overflowing with a variety of words that are meaningful as well as insightful--words not found elsewhere in the Bible! For instance, he uses five different words to describe “darkness,” each one containing a unique meaning. The writings are also filled with similes and metaphors meant to invoke the deepest feelings and emotions known to mankind.
Interestingly, Job’s name means “the persecuted one.” Symbolically, it is a reflection of the enemy’s plot to remove Job’s influence and power in the land. When you and I take up the cause of God, we, too, automatically become “Jobs,” the persecuted ones.
As we look into scripture, we find Job was very revered in the sight of God and man. He is quoted at least twice in the New Testament and was so renowned in the Old that God mentions him by name through the prophet Ezekiel. (See Ezek. 14:14.)
So, where does Job fit into the biblical time frame of the Old Testament? There are varied views; however, many scholars agree that Job lived in what is known as the patriarchal period. Cultural features found in the book place him after the flood and somewhere between the stories of the Tower of Babel and Abraham.
Some scholars question the authenticity of Job as a real biblical character, while others see the whole story as being allegorical in nature. However, the prophet Ezekiel calls him by name in conjunction with Daniel and Noah, who are respected as real persons. It is highly unlikely a fictional character would be mentioned with such giants of the faith.
As you can see, there is much to be learned from the life of Job. He was a real person with real issues. What can be learned from a biblical character that lived almost five millennia ago? Much! Maybe you need to read Job’s story again. What do you think?
