The Book of Job

The Book of Job follows the tragic and noteworthy trials of a man named Job. Job was very wealthy, so wealthy he could occupy a county. However, in just the flick of a candle, he lost it all. His family, his wealth and his health. Job then went on to have conversations with people who accused him of being decietful, his friends distrusted him and his pleas fell on deaf ears. This book highlights destitution, betrayal, young foolishness and trying faith.

I wasn’t sure how I wanted to make this review without sounding like I was preaching but either way, there was no way I was not going to spill on this book. I have read this book twice and for the two times I have read it, I still laugh hard, get mad and heartbroken. This book follows Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and dare I say, Elihu. It is filled with speeches and disguised insults. Job was very straightforward and his ‘friends’ went through the back door. That is until they couldn’t stand Job’s ‘arrogance’ any longer and then insulted him to his face.

Here is why I absolutely love this book. Apart from the lessons it communicates, it carries a lot of flair from the poetic to the sarcastic. For a book in the bible, it carries a whole lot of sarcasm, mostly from Job and God. If I ever thought the Bible was a boring book, the book of Job refutes that argument for me because tell me why I’m cackling like a hyena so early in the morning. Job didn’t mince his words while defending his case. He stood by his innocence from beginning to end, and he even dared to question God. He needed answers. He wanted to understand why he was being punished.

The conversations between the four were so enlightening. Apart from the occassional parts where I would laugh at a stupid statement, there were the parts that were spiritually edifying and educational. For all the word vomit Eliphaz did, all the subtle jabs he threw the way of his friend, he was right in a few things. This doesn’t mean they were said at the right time. Eliphaz’s lack of empathy displayed the severity of words. It can kill and we tend to overlook it. Rather than being a source of comfort, he wanted so much for his friend to admit guilt. Because there was no way Job acquired all that money through legal means. No way he was so righteous and wealthy at the same time. Job was a deceiver and his deceit had caught up with him. Mind you, these were supposed to be his friends.

This hammered for me. I see it in society, especially amidst the low class of Nigeria. A person makes it and he is to be questioned of his wealth. They only see his wealth overnight, not the hard work he must have put in to get there. Just like some people came to advise me of my pastor. They claimed he was a fraud who got involved in ‘scamming’ activities. I didn’t reply to them, even till today. All I did was dig and pray for discernment. It was discerning alright! I realised that when people do not know or aren’t sure of something, they criticise it. In their case, they knew only what gossip took to them. They didn’t know him. I don’t judge them, I just hope they will stop to think before they speak. Words can be dangerous, especially when speaking them against an anointed. One of the seven things God hates, ‘a lying tongue’. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t formulate the lie, you propagated it.

I think the character that struck me most was the person of Elihu. Gosh! If I ever wanted to strangle someone in the bible, it was that guy. The youngest, most foolish of the bunch. Well, not totally foolish because he said the right things but at the very wrong time. He wasn’t even supposed to be in that conversation, but he was and he took his elder’s example and decided to insult someone way far ahead of him, in life and experience. This just made me shudder. I told myself, whatever happens, I deal with my shit alone. Letting people know what I’m going through is just ammunition. Yeah, heck no!

No sympathy was offered. No comfort. Just accusations, personal views and vendetta (because Eliphaz definitely had a grudge against Job – you can read the book to see) and a lot of name calling. Job wasn’t having it. Did I tell you there were a lot of insults in this book? Very creative ones in fact! Lmao! I couldn’t stop laughing honestly.

Heading further down, I loved this book because of the Almighty aura. Is there anyone that has enough aura to shut people up? It is God. He replied to every question, every jab and laid down their ignorance before them like a dirty rag. That was so satisfying, but not as much as how He ignored Elihu (the loud one) like he was nothing but an ant. Bro! I dropped my bible and put a hand on my head. That was all the message He needed to pass, ‘you are not worth my time’. What aura could be as cold as that?

Anyway, The Book of Job is my favourite for this month of January. I’ve read it twice and each time, it hasn’t been boring to say the least. I love it. You can always find the book in the Bible.