Job 29-31: Job's Response to Affliction

Many approach the book of Job with a pessimistic attitude toward Job, convicting him of wrongdoing in every chapter of the book. Others approach the book with a optimistic attitude toward Job, justifying everything he said. However, if we read the book of Job correctly, I believe that we ought to read it somewhere between these two extremes. Was Job a man full of integrity? Certainly. But he also had his slip-ups.

In the context of our chapters today, Job is giving his final defense. In chapters 20-28 (which we skipped over in our written devotionals, but hopefully you still read them if you are following along the plan!), Job's friends have continued to accuse him of wrongdoing. The accusations have gotten fiercer and fiercer each round, and Job has gotten more direct with his friends each round as well. After the third round of counseling, Job is disgusted with his friends, and even says that it would have been better off if they were not there. Thus, in this frustrated and overwhelmed context, we find Job making his final appeal in chapters 29-31.

In chapter 29, Job simply recalls the days before his affliction: "Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me" (29:1). He recalls of all of the great blessings that God gave him in those days, as well as all the people who looked up to him and loved him. In contrast, in chapter 30, we find Job describing his present affliction and the horribleness of it all. He describes how men who used to love him now mock him, and how his "days of affliction have taken hold" of him (Job 30:16). In both of these two chapters, we find Job outrightly making a plea asking if he could go back to the days before his affliction (29:1). Amidst his trials, Job wants a restart. He doesn't want to be here anymore.

In chapter 31, we see something most interesting. Job makes a great speech, asking God to punish him for sins which he has committed if he has committed any. He states that he has been blameless amidst his trial in specific sin areas (such as lust, falsehood, adultery, injustice, and envy), yet if he hasn't, he asks God to punish him according to his evil deeds. This chapter may seem rather obscure, but it is truly quite wonderful. What Job is saying is this, "I don't believe I have sinned, but if I have, may just punishment be upon me and my soul." Thus, in this chapter we see Job striving to maintain his integrity, not letting his afflictions lead him to sin.

Well, if this was Job's response to trial, how would we grade him, according to other scriptures? Well, I would certainly have to give him an "A" if we were just looking at chapter 31. In this chapter, Job held his integrity. He did not give up on God's commands, and he asks that if he did, he would be punished for it. Job here did what he proclaimed he would do in verse 27:6: "I hold fast to my righteousness and will not let it go." However, in chapters 30-31, it seems as if Job is not trusting in the Lord's sovereign hand. Consider this verse from Ecclesiastes: "Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." Did it not seem that Job was doing exactly what this verse from Ecclesiastes was forbidding? I certainly think so. Rather than having faith in God's sovereign plan, Job wished for the days of old. He was not content with where he was, so rather than asking God for strength for endurance, he asked for his circumstance to change.

Yet, let us definitely give Job some slack. He literally lost all that he had. Given the circumstances, I know at least I would have sinned way more than he had, and you probably would have too.

So, in light of this, how do you respond to your afflictions? Are you like Job, holding fast to you integrity, even when times are tough? Furthermore, do you trust God with whatever he has given you, unlike Job seemed to do? Consider these words from Charles Spurgeon as we conclude for the day:

"Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there."