Suffering in the Book of Job
Why is there suffering in the world, and how could a benevolent, all-powerful God allow suffering to exist? For centuries, humans have wrestled with these types of questions, tackling a topic known as theodicy. The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines Theodicy as “the attempt to defend God’s omnipotence and goodness in the face of the problem of evil in the world.”[1] The story of Job addresses this by exploring the complexities of chaos and suffering interwoven amidst God’s sovereignty. The book of Job exposes the limitations of traditional retribution theology and demonstrates that suffering must be understood in light of God’s infinite wisdom and cosmic plan, and the New Testament provides a more robust description of theodicy through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Job — Purpose and Themes
The primary purpose of Job is to examine the sovereign rule of God in regards to justice and suffering.[2] The book opens with Satan challenging God’s justice system of rewarding the righteous. In 1:9–11, Satan tells God, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” Brevard Childs explains, “God’s honor is at stake. Can a…
