Why the Book of Job is Different from the Other Books
The book of Job is one of the most prolific and unique books of the bible. It is a mix of narrative and poetry, and is distinctive in the fact that it deals with the individual's (Job's) relationship to God, as oppose to that of the group's. It is these differences along with the somewhat radical picture of God that is presented which makes Job quite different than the rest of the bible, and often so interesting. One of the fundamental themes that arises in Job is the different imago-deis, or images of the Godhead that are presented throughout the book. Job is subjected to terrible trials of faith that force him to question the traditional image of God that had been so familiar to his culture and to himself. It is through these trials and this journey that Job is eventually able to break through to a new imago dei.
When the book of Job begins, Job couldn't ask for anything more, or be any happier. He was living a pious life with a generous collection of material possessions and a large loving family. God saw Job as an ideal servant. It was only when Satan hypothesized to God that the sole reason why Job was so obedient to God was because he was living so well that He allowed Satan to test this theory; under the condition that he didn't kill Job. Satan destroyed all that Job owned, and even killed his sons and daughters. Job was quite distraught over this, but didn't curse God as Satan had predicted. Satan then said that if Job's personal health were put at risk, then Job would certainly blaspheme against God. God again conceded to a test, making the same condition of not killing Job. Satan then covered Job's body with sores and blisters. Job was overwhe...
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...im. His inflation was countered with the prolonged alienation that he suffered at the hands of God.
The journey that Job underwent was clearly indicative of the same realization that many humans have to go through. It is a common fallacy to believe that God can be equated and judged as humans are; that the same scale used by humanity is appropriate for our divine creator. And as erroneous as this may be, it is an honest mistake. Humans possess such a painfully limited breadth of knowledge; compared to an omniscient, omnipotent creator, we know absolutely nothing. It was this notion that God wanted Job to realize, and for this reason that God was so vindictive with the pompous. More than anything, God wanted his creation to be humble and to respect His authority.
Bibliography:
The Bible
The Portable Jung, Harcourt and Associates, New York, 1973.
Second, the story line. Although Archibald MacLeish wrote the play based on the story of Job in The Bible, there are many differences in the story line. In the Bible, Job’s misfortune was spawned by Satan trying to show God that Job was not as holy as God had thought. God gave Satan the power to destroy everything Job had, including his health. Job’s children all died together when the roof of the house collapsed on them while they were all dining at the house of the oldest brother.
...n the world. Job questions what god is really doing for him. Then god talks to job in question form about the creation of the earth. This shows that jobs is very small compared to god, so small that he cannot even being to understand some of the the things god is telling him. Chapter 38 proves to job that humans are far below the power of god then in chapter 42 job quickly shames himself for the previous things he said.
The events that destroy Job’s property and children seem to be agency limiting by their very nature. To Job, the entire chain of incidents must have appeared as a string of unfortunate coincidences. There was no element of predictability, no chance for Job to prepare for or thwart Satan’s plan. Job was blindsided. His agency was restricted by his limited knowledge of what was happening around him. The events Satan chose as a means to obliterate Job’s possessions and his children, were random and uncontrollable for Job. There was no room for any expression of agency on his part. Job&am...
He wants to find a way to justify God’s actions, but he cannot understand why there are evil people who “harm the childless woman, / and do no good to the widow,” only to be rewarded with long, successful lives (Job 24:21). Job’s friends, say that God distributes outcomes to each person as his or her actions deserve. As a result of this belief, they insist that Job has committed some wrongdoing to merit his punishment. God himself declines to present a rational explanation for the unfair distribution of blessings and curses. He still suggests that people should not discuss divine justice since God’s power is so great that humans cannot possibly justify his
The Book of Job is a book about a wealthy man Job who lived in a land called Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He was “blameless” and “upright,” and was always careful to avoid doing evil. One day, Satan (“the Adversary”) ap...
The first commentator under consideration is Martin Buber in an excerpt from his Darko shel miqra'4. Buber draws an apt parallel between the Book of Job and the proceedings in a court of law, casting God as judge and Job as prosecution. In Buber's legal parallel, Job demands what in an earthly court of law would amount to due process, or a fair trial. And yet, even as Buber confers the legitimacy of a court of law on Job's complaints, Buber suggests that Job knew his appeal was "suppressed from the start."5 Buber cites Job: "Though I am right, my mouth will condemn me!"6 By highlighting the justness of Job's claims and the non-existent chance of a divine finding in Job's favour, Buber stresses how human justice and divine justice diverge. This difference is highlighted further by discussion of how Job is made to suffer hinnam, or gratuitously, from both God and Job's perspective.7
...ade to choose him for the spiritual task. Job realized he had to experience loss and suffering in the name of God to pass the test God bestowed upon him. God stated “Who is that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me... Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth” (p.667) God notified Job he was in no position to question the loss he must undertake in order to complete his mission. Job realized the meaning of his life, when he realized the magnitude God went to convince him of his calling. Job forgave himself for his sacrifices, because he realized it was instructed by God.
In the first-round, God makes it very clear that Ha-Satan cannot lay a hand on Job, but can do anything else he wants. God then rewards Job with a new family, new animals and cured him of the skin disease and he lived for another one hundred and forty years. After everything Ha-Satan had put Job through, Job never once cursed God’s name. After losing his family, Job still worshiped God, and stayed positive. Once he received the skin disease, he did not curse God and say his life was over, he remained faithful to God.
The difference between a superhero, as we know from movies and comics, and a traditional hero is rather unclear for many people.. In modern times, a superhero is often a being with supernatural abilities. For example, the movies depict them as individuals with super strength, night vision, the ability to climb walls, and so on. The majority of audiences have been spoiled with these unrealistic depictions and are unable to recall the real or “traditional” hero. In the texts, The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Book of Job, and Bhagavad Gita, heroes are not “as seen on television”, but something more. The heroes in these stories carry great strengths such as wisdom, patience, and pride. To illustrate these characteristics, the protagonists themselves
began to question his faith. He thought, how could God destroy a civilization if he loved it so
Job was a man of the purest faith. When the world shunned God, Job's faith never declined. Job was a wealthy, handsome man with a beautiful wife and a vast amount of property. At some point in time, Satan made a bet with God that if Job situation was changed, his faith would quickly falter. On this note, God took Job's wealth, his property, his family, and his wife. When times were at their worst, God gave Job pus welts on Job's face, taking his looks. Job's faith, however, did not falter, instead it becamestronger. Job passed the test. God then healed Job, gave him more land, greater wealth , and a better wife. Job was baffled, he wondered the purpose behind his fall and rise. When he asked God this, God replied: "...Because I'm God." That was answer enough.
aspect of it comes as a complete surprise. First, Job’s final words to God are mind-bogglingly ambiguous
His whole mind was focused on earthly things. He wasn’t aware of what the Scriptures mentioned: “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 KJV). Everyman’s whole life was consecrated to perishable things. For example, his goods were the most cherished of all. Instead of worshiping God, he worshiped mammon. He was deceived thinking money could do everything for him. Certainly, it could solve some problems, but it couldn’t bribe death or delay it for him. In addition to that, Everyman didn’t choose the right friends. His friend “Fellowship”, another allegorical character, was depicted as ungodly. They both had fun and entertainment together. Instead of rebuking Everyman or giving him good counsel, Fellowship approved and encouraged his sinful actions. Indeed Everyman had to face death unprepared and alone because he was ungodly and his earthly treasures could not accompany
The Book of Job is the perfect portrayal of what faith should be. It starts with a man who is extremely successful, wealthy, and has a beautiful family. The only person that Job thanks for all his fortunes is God. One day the Devil points out to God that Job only praises his name, because of all the good fortune he has brought Job. So for no other reason but to prove a point, God killed all of Job’s livestock, destroyed his beautiful home, and killed all of his children. Job was completely unmoved by the tragedy that stuck him and said, “The lord gives and the lord takes away” (Book of Job). Prior to this instance, Job had never spoken to God
In The Book of Job, one of the main themes is desire, more specifically the desire to know the actuality. Job is a wealthy man living in a land of Uz with his family minding his own business. He is a very religious man and usually strives to do what he believes is morally right. Satan one day challenges God that Job will lose his faith in him if he allows Satan to torture Job. God accepts the challenge and Job greatly suffers. Job at the beginning of the story had no desires or intentions at all, but as his condition gets worse and worse. Job mindset about God and his belief begins to shift. At this point in the story desire starts to play a key role in Job’s life. Desire is shown in Job when he demands answers from God and why God is putting him through all of this. The idea of questioning God terrifies Job but his desire for an answer ultimately overshadows his fear of questioning God, “Here is my desire...