The Book Of Job

This is just a brief overview of the Book of Job.

The book of Job is probably the most misinterpreted book in the entire Bible. The most common interpretation of the book of Job goes something like this;

” We do not always know what goes on behind the scenes, but God is in control, and nothing can or will happen without His permission. But sometimes God allows us to suffer in our health, economy, etc. to teach or to test our faith, and see if we still praise Him in difficulty just for who He is and not only to get something from Him. But God does not tempt us beyond our ability, and for those who love God work all things together for good, just look at what happened with Job at the end “

And people use Scripture as Romans 8:28 and 1 Cor. 10:13.

This is an INCORRECT interpretation of the book of Job!

A person who interpret the book of job in this way takes the place of Jesus Christ! Jesus took our infirmities, sickness and pain on Himself on the cross so that we would not have to suffer in our lives (Isaiah 53, Matthew 8:16-17).
There are some things we must have in mind when we talk about the book of Job and the sovereignty of God and these are:

1. God can do whatever He wants and He is almighty and nothing can and will not happen without His permission is a true statement, since He is God Almighty! But the interesting thing is what God has done with His almightiness.
Psalm 138: 2b says,

For you have magnified thy word above all thy name.

This Scripture clearly state that God’s own Words is a higher authority than God Himself. This has to do with the nature of God, God can not lie (Num. 23:19, Titus 1:2). If it is impossible for someone to lie, then the words that the person speaks is greater than himself. The Bible calls this a “Covenant”. Our God is a Covenant God. God always relates to us with a covenant and He cannot break His Covenant with us, for if He does, He would be a liar. When God says something, He always stands for it forever (Psalm 89: 34, Tim 2:13).

It can be said that God has limited Himself in what He can do, through His word (His promise).
Today we live in the New Testament, the new Covenant that God the Father has established with us through His Son Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:16). We have all the New Testament promises which include healing (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16-17), protection (Luke 10:19), and our financial needs (Matthew 6:24-34) ect, promises that God cannot retract or change His mind about.

2. It is important to keep in mind that Job lived in the time Israel were slaves in Egypt. In other words, before the Old Testament (before Moses received the law from God). Job had no Covenant with God at all, either a old or a new one. God had no restriction at all to protect Job in any way. God did protect Job except for a certain period in his life when we see God removes His protection from Job and the Devil attacks him. We may have questions on this, but we must remember that it is up to God how He wanted to deal with Job at that time.

My viewpoint is that this can’t happen to us today because we have a Covenant with God. For our health (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:16-17) and for protection (Luke 10:19, Matthew 28:20) God cannot remove his protection over us, so that the devil can come and torment us with pain and misery, because if he did it, He will be a law breaker, against His own Words. This is important to know, if you believe things can only happen if God allows, you will submit to poverty and disease and all things the devil comes towards you with. Because, perhaps, God allowed the devil to do this and you will not actively resist the devil, reverse. You will cooperate with him, summiting you into his work and many times, without knowing it and you are violating the Scripture.
James 4: 7b says,

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Then, you might say, but why  does God allow things to happen?

He does not, you allow things to happen! By failing to take responsibility God has given you as a believer.
God will never do anything He has given you the responsibility to do. Because, as said, He committed Himself to His Words, God has given us believers the authority over the whole power of the enemy (Luke 10:19), and you must resist the devil (James 4:7 (b)) the power to resist the devil is the believers responsibility, not God’s. You use weapons, as prayer and faith, etc. and fight against disease and poverty etc. And he will flee from you!

It was exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden, with Adam. God gave Adam the dominion over the Earth. He was the ruler of everything on earth. God gave Adam domination And RESPONSEBILITY to tend and keep this earth (Genesis 1: 26, 2: 15). He had the power to reprimand and deal with the devil, but he did not use his given power to take his responsibility to govern. It is the same situation with us today. God has given us power over the enemy, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR RESPONSEBILITY TO RESIST THE DEVIL!

3. James called Job a Prophet (James 5: 10-11), so how was Job a prophet? The book of Job is a prophetic figure that tells us that the righteous will face difficulties and tough times here on earth, but that we must endure as Job. And we see what reward he received at the end of his endurance, which is an image of heaven. But when you read this in the book of James you see that he is not talking about sickness and suffering in the same way as in the book of Job.
2 Tim 3: 12 says

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Paul writes “AGAINST PERSECUTION”. Against this kind of suffering we have no promises from God that He will fully protect us from. This kind of suffering will be encountered says the Bible. It is this kind of suffering that the book of Job is a prophetic figure for us today, that the righteous will suffer persecution here on Earth, and we must endure and there will come a reward called Heaven if you persevere.

James 5: 7-11

Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! Take my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering affliction and of patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and have seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

More teachings with Aly-Sam Botros