1-2. What are some reasons why the book of Job is worth reading?

HAVE you recently had the pleasure of reading the book of Job? Though written some 3,500 years ago, this ancient book is often counted among the masterpieces of world literature. Commenting on its simple structure, beautiful style, and expressive language, one reference work calls its writer “a literary genius.” Moses was the man who penned this remarkable book, but the real Author is Jehovah God.​—2 Tim. 3:16.

² The book of Job is a key part of the Bible. Why? For one thing, it clearly reveals the great issue facing all intelligent creation​—the sanctification of Jehovah’s name. It also teaches us about Jehovah’s marvelous qualities, such as his love, wisdom, justice, and power. For example, the book of Job refers to Jehovah as “the Almighty” 31 times, more than the rest of the Scriptures combined. The book of Job also answers many of life’s questions, including one that still troubles many: Why does God allow suffering?

3. What are some benefits we can gain from studying the book of Job?

³ Just as a mountain gives us a vantage point from which we can see our surroundings clearly, the book of Job helps us to view life’s trials from an elevated perspective​—Jehovah’s perspective. Let us see how the book of Job can help us when we suffer. We will learn how the Israelites could have benefited from the story of Job and how we can benefit from it today. We will also learn how we can use this Bible account to help others.

GOD ALLOWS JOB TO SUFFER

4. What stark contrast existed between Job and the Israelites in Egypt?

⁴ During the time that the Israelites were suffering as slaves in Egypt, a man named Job was living in the land of Uz, possibly located east of the Promised Land and somewhere in the north of Arabia. In stark contrast to the Israelites who had begun worshipping idols in Egypt, Job served Jehovah faithfully. (Josh. 24:14; Ezek. 20:8) Jehovah said of Job: “There is no one like him on the earth.”a (Job 1:8) Job was extremely wealthy and enjoyed great prestige​—greater than that of any other person of the East. (Job 1:3) How infuriated Satan must have been to see this prominent and influential man serving God with integrity!

5. Why did Jehovah allow Job to suffer? (Job 1:20-22; 2:9, 10)

⁵ Satan claimed that Job would abandon true worship if he suffered. (Job 1:7-11; 2:2-5) Though Jehovah loved Job dearly, Satan’s brazen claim raised many important issues, so Jehovah allowed Satan to try to prove his case. (Job 1:12-19; 2:6-8) Satan took away Job’s flocks and herds, caused the death of Job’s ten children, and struck Job with painful boils from head to toe. But these sadistic attempts to break Job’s integrity failed. (Read Job 1:20-22; 2:9, 10.) In time, Jehovah restored Job’s health, wealth, and reputation, and He gave Job ten more children. He also miraculously extended Job’s life for 140 years, long enough for him to see four generations of his descendants thriving. (Job 42:10-13, 16) How could this account have benefited those in the past, and how can it benefit us today?

6. How could the Israelites have benefited from knowing why God permits suffering? (See also picture.)

⁶ How the Israelites could have benefited. The Israelites had not lived easy lives in Egypt. For example, Joshua and Caleb had spent their youth as slaves. Then through no fault of their own, they wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. If the Israelites knew about the story of Job’s trials and the outcome of his life, no doubt it helped them, as well as the Israelites of future generations, to understand who is ultimately responsible for suffering. They could also better understand why God permits suffering and how much he values human integrity and faithfulness.

7-8. How can the book of Job help those of us who suffer? Relate an experience.

⁷ How we can benefit. Sadly, many people today have lost faith in God because they cannot understand why bad things happen to good people. Consider the example of Hazelb from Rwanda. When she was young, she believed in God. But then things changed. Her parents got divorced, and as a result, she was raised by her stepfather, who treated her badly. As a teenager, she was raped. When Hazel went to her place of worship for comfort, she did not receive it. Later, Hazel wrote a letter to God. In it she stated: “God, I prayed to you, I tried to do good, but you repaid good with evil. I am now leaving you, and I plan to do whatever makes me happy.” How our hearts break for people who, like Hazel, have been led to believe that God is responsible for their suffering!

⁸ We, however, have learned from the account in the book of Job that God is not responsible for suffering​—Satan is! We have also learned not to assume that those who suffer are reaping what they have sown. The Scriptures tell us that “time and unexpected events” can affect anyone at any time. (Eccl. 9:11; Job 4:1, 8) And we have learned that by our enduring trials faithfully, we give Jehovah a reply to Satan’s taunts. That helps to defend His reputation. (Job 2:3; Prov. 27:11) We do not take what we have learned for granted​—these insights enable us to know the truth about why we and our loved ones suffer. Later, Hazel studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses and came to understand that God did not cause her suffering. She said: “I prayed to God again from the bottom of my heart. I told Jehovah that when I had said I was leaving him, I was not really leaving him. After all, I didn’t really know him. Now I understand that Jehovah loves me. I am finally happy and content.” How grateful we are to know why God allows suffering! Let us now consider how the account of Job can help us personally during trials.

HOW THE ACCOUNT OF JOB HELPS US TO ENDURE

9. How would you describe Job as he sat in ashes? (James 5:11)

⁹ Picture Job as he sat alone in ashes, covered in boils and bent double in pain. His skin, blackened from the disease, peeled away from his emaciated frame. Physically exhausted, Job may have appeared to be doing little but scraping himself with pieces of broken pottery and giving vent to his despair. But Job was not merely surviving, he was enduring. (Read James 5:11.) What helped Job to endure?

10. What kind of relationship did Job have with Jehovah? Explain.

¹⁰ Job expressed his emotions to Jehovah. (Job 10:1, 2; 16:20) For example, chapter 3 tells us that Job complained bitterly about the tragedies that had befallen him, which he mistakenly assumed Jehovah had caused. Then in a series of debates with his three companions, Job strongly defended his integrity, often directing his responses to Jehovah. Job’s words suggest that for a time he considered himself to be more righteous than God. (Job 10:1-3; 32:1, 2; 35:1, 2) In reality, though, he admitted that his efforts to defend his integrity sometimes amounted to “wild talk.” (Job 6:3, 26) In chapter 31, we read that Job spoke of wanting to be exonerated by God. (Job 31:35) Of course, Job was wrong to demand a direct answer from God as to what was behind his suffering.

11. How did Jehovah react to Job’s response regarding his integrity?

¹¹ In retrospect, we can see that Job’s desperate plea reflected his unswerving devotion to Jehovah and unshakable hope that somehow God would recognize his integrity. When Jehovah did finally answer Job from a windstorm, He did not go into detail about the reasons for Job’s suffering. Neither did He condemn Job for his complaints or mention his protests of innocence. Rather, Jehovah instructed Job as a father would a son. And that was the right approach. As a result, Job humbly acknowledged how little he really knew, and he repented of his rash words. (Job 31:6; 40:4, 5; 42:1-6) How could this account have benefited people in the past, and how can it benefit us today?

12. How could the Israelites have benefited from the account of Job?

¹² How the Israelites could have benefited. The Israelites could have learned from what happened to Job. Consider Moses’ example. He had to endure a multitude of hardships, disappointments, and discouragements as he took on the role of leader of the nation of Israel. In contrast to the rebellious Israelites, who often complained against Jehovah, Moses went to Jehovah with his concerns. (Ex. 16:6-8; Num. 11:10-14; 14:1-4, 11; 16:41, 49; 17:5) Moses also needed to endure when he was personally corrected. For example, while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh, probably during the 40th year of their wandering in the desert, Moses spoke “rashly with his lips” and failed to magnify Jehovah’s name. (Ps. 106:32, 33) As a result, Jehovah did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land. (Deut. 32:50-52) This discipline must have hurt Moses; yet, he humbly accepted it. The account about Job could have helped future generations of the Israelites to endure the trials they faced. By meditating on the account, faithful ones could learn how to express their feelings to Jehovah and how to avoid justifying themselves before him. They could also learn how to accept Jehovah’s discipline with humility.

13. How can the account of Job help us to endure? (Hebrews 10:36)

¹³ How we can benefit. As Christians, we too need endurance. (Read Hebrews 10:36.) For example, some of us are coping with a physical or an emotional problem, a difficult family situation, the loss of a loved one, or some other serious problem. And at times, the comments or the actions of others may make our situation harder to endure. (Prov. 12:18) However, the book of Job teaches us that we can express our innermost feelings to Jehovah, confident that he will hear us. (1 John 5:14) He will not condemn us if our heartfelt supplications occasionally veer into the realm of “wild talk,” as occurred with Job. Rather, God will give us the strength and the wisdom we need to endure. (2 Chron. 16:9; Jas. 1:5) He may also correct us to the extent needed, as he did Job. The book of Job also teaches us how to endure if we receive counsel or discipline from Jehovah’s Word, His organization, or mature friends. (Heb. 12:5-7) Just as Job benefited from humbly accepting the correction he received, we benefit when we allow ourselves to be readjusted. (2 Cor. 13:11) What beneficial lessons we learn from Job! Let us now consider how we can use the account of Job to help others.

USE THE BOOK OF JOB TO HELP OTHERS

14. What line of reasoning can we use in the ministry to explain why suffering exists?

¹⁴ Have you ever met someone in the ministry who asked you why suffering exists? How did you answer his question? You may have pointed to what the Bible says happened in the garden of Eden. Perhaps you started by mentioning that Satan, a wicked spirit, told the first human couple a lie that led them to rebel against God. (Gen. 3:1-6) Then you may have pointed out that after Adam and Eve’s rebellion, the world became filled with suffering and death. (Rom. 5:12) Finally, you may have explained that God is allowing enough time to pass to disprove Satan’s lie and to spread the good news that in the future humans will again be perfect. (Rev. 21:3, 4) This is a fine way to reason on the question, and it can lead to good results.

15. How might we use the book of Job to help someone who asks why suffering exists? (See also pictures.)

¹⁵ Consider another line of reasoning that you may want to incorporate in your approach, one from the book of Job. You might start by commending the person for asking such a meaningful question. Then, mention that Job, a faithful man who suffered greatly, raised a similar thought. He even believed that in some way God was the cause of his pain. (Job 7:17-21) The person you are speaking with may be somewhat impressed that his view has a long history. Next, you could tactfully explain that it was not God but the Devil who caused Job’s suffering. The Devil did so in an attempt to prove that humans serve God only for selfish reasons. You might add that although God did not cause Job’s suffering, he did allow it, thus showing that God trusts faithful humans to prove Satan wrong. Finally, you could explain that in time God blessed Job for remaining faithful. So we can comfort others by assuring them that suffering does not come from Jehovah.

16. Relate an experience that shows how the book of Job can help someone who is suffering.

¹⁶ Consider how the book of Job helped Mario. One day in 2021, a sister was doing telephone witnessing. On her first call, she shared a Bible verse with Mario and explained that God not only listens to our prayers but also offers us a future and a hope. When she asked for his thoughts, Mario told her that he had been writing a suicide note when she called. He said, “I believe in God, but I was just wondering this morning if he had abandoned me.” The second phone call led to a discussion about Job’s suffering. Mario decided that he needed to read the entire book of Job. So our sister sent him a link to the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. The result? Mario accepted a Bible study and was excited to learn more about the loving God who took an interest in him.

17. Why are you grateful to Jehovah for including the book of Job in His inspired Word? (Job 34:12)

¹⁷ Clearly, God’s Word has tremendous power to help people, including those who suffer. (Heb. 4:12) How grateful we are that Jehovah included the account of Job in His inspired Word! (Job 19:23, 24) The book of Job assures us that “for a certainty, God does not act wickedly.” (Read Job 34:12.) It also teaches us why God permits suffering and how we can endure it. And it helps us to console those who suffer. The next article will discuss insights from the book of Job, such as how to give effective counsel.

1-2. What challenge do Job’s three companions and Elihu face?

THE news spreads like wildfire among the people of the East. Job, a man known far and wide for his riches, has lost everything. When three of Job’s companions​—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—​learn what has happened to Job, they journey to Uz in order to comfort him. But they are not prepared for what they see when they arrive.

² Imagine the scene. In a sense, everything that Job possessed has been taken from him. His vast herds of sheep, cattle, camels, and donkeys are gone. His children have been killed and most of his servants have been slaughtered. And the house where Job’s children were killed lies in ruins. As if that were not bad enough, Job is personally affected. His body is now covered with painful boils. From a distance, the three men see Job dejected and sitting in ashes. How do they react? For some seven days, they do not say a word to this man who is in great pain. (Job 2:12, 13) At one point, a younger man named Elihu arrives and sits down nearby. Job finally breaks the silence by cursing the day he was born and wishing for death. (Job 3:1-3, 11) Clearly, Job needs help! What these men say and how they say it will prove whether they are really Job’s friends and whether they are truly interested in his welfare.

3. What will we now focus on?

³ Jehovah had Moses record what Job’s three companions and Elihu said and did. It is worth noting that some of what Eliphaz said seems to have been inspired by a wicked spirit. In contrast, Elihu’s statements were inspired by Jehovah. (Job 4:12-16; 33:24, 25) Little wonder, then, that even though the book of Job contains some of the best advice ever given, it also contains some of the worst. A key benefit that we can gain from the book of Job is how it can help us when we need to give counsel. First, we will consider the bad examples of Job’s three companions. Then, we will discuss the good example of Elihu. In each case, we will learn how the Israelites could have benefited from the book of Job and how we can benefit from it today.

HOW JOB’S THREE COMPANIONS COUNSELED HIM

4. Why did Job’s three companions fail to achieve their objective? (See also picture.)

⁴ The Bible says that Job’s three companions went to “sympathize with Job and comfort him” after hearing about his calamities. (Job 2:11) However, they failed to achieve that objective. Why? For at least three reasons. First, they were quick to jump to wrong conclusions. For example, they mistakenly assumed that Job was being punished for sins that he had committed.a (Job 4:7; 11:14) Second, much of the counsel those men gave Job was unhelpful, unkind, and downright hurtful. For instance, all three men made statements that sounded good but were lacking real substance. (Job 13:12) Twice, Bildad unkindly told Job that he talked too much. (Job 8:2; 18:2) And Zophar cuttingly implied that Job was “empty-headed.” (Job 11:12) Third, although they may not have raised their voices when speaking to Job, their tone was often condescending, sarcastic, and accusatory. (Job 15:7-11) Ultimately, these men became more interested in proving Job wrong than in healing his heart or building up his faith.

5. What resulted from the counsel that Job’s companions gave?

⁵ Not surprisingly, the counsel Job’s companions gave did not yield good results. Job felt crushed by their words. (Job 19:2) You can appreciate why he also felt the need to defend his reputation. That led him to become unbalanced in his thinking and to speak unwisely. (Job 6:3, 26) Job’s companions did not share thoughts that harmonized with Jehovah’s thinking; nor did they treat Job with compassion. As a result, they unwittingly became tools in Satan’s hands. (Job 2:4, 6) How could this account have benefited those in the past, and how can it benefit us today?

6. What could the elders in Israel have learned from the bad example of Job’s three companions?

⁶ How the Israelites could have benefited. After forming the nation of Israel, Jehovah appointed qualified men, elders, to judge the nation according to his righteous standards. (Deut. 1:15-18; 27:1) Such men needed to listen carefully before giving advice or rendering judgment. (2 Chron. 19:6) They also needed to ask questions rather than assume that they knew all the facts. (Deut. 19:18) Those counselors in Israel needed to avoid speaking harshly to those who came to them for help. Why? Because displaying irritation could discourage a person from opening his or her heart. (Ex. 22:22-24) The elders in Israel who considered the account of Job could have indeed gleaned lessons from it.

7. Besides the elders in Israel, who could give counsel, and how could they have benefited from the account of Job? (Proverbs 27:9)

⁷ Of course, mature men were not the only ones who could give counsel in Israel. Really, any Israelite​—young or old, male or female—​could offer advice to a companion who needed help to improve in his worship or to correct his conduct. (Ps. 141:5) Such sincere counsel is the mark of a true friend. (Read Proverbs 27:9.) The bad example of Job’s three companions had the potential to provide the Israelites with a living pattern of what not to say and what not to do when giving counsel.

8. What pitfalls do we need to avoid when giving counsel? (See also pictures.)

⁸ How we can benefit. As Christians, we want to help our brothers and sisters when they go through trials. However, to do so, we must avoid what Job’s three companions did. First, we should refrain from jumping to conclusions and be sure that what we say is based on solid facts. Second, we should not build our advice primarily on the unstable ground of personal experience, as Eliphaz often did, but, rather, on the solid bedrock of God’s Word. (Job 4:8; 5:3, 27) Third, we need to avoid harsh or critical speech. Remember, Eliphaz and his companions did speak about some things that were true; one of their statements was even quoted by another inspired Bible writer. (Compare Job 5:13 with 1 Corinthians 3:19.) Nevertheless, most of what they said misrepresented God and hurt Job, so Jehovah judged what they said as false. (Job 42:7, 8) Good counsel never paints Jehovah as unreasonable or his servants as unlovable. Let us now discuss what we can learn from Elihu’s example.

HOW ELIHU COUNSELED JOB

9. Explain why Job needed help after his companions stopped talking and how Jehovah provided it.

⁹ By the time Job and his companions stopped arguing, the atmosphere must have been tense. Those men had spoken enough words to fill 28 chapters of the Bible, and much of what was said was spoken in anger or out of frustration. No wonder Job’s pain remained! He still needed comfort and correction. How did Jehovah help Job? He used Elihu to give him counsel. Why did Elihu not speak up sooner? “I am young,” he said, “and you men are aged. So I respectfully held back.” (Job 32:6, 7) Young Elihu realized what many come to realize today: Older ones have lived and learned and, as a result, have wisdom as well as experience in life that younger ones often do not have. But after listening patiently to Job and his companions, Elihu could no longer keep silent. He said: “Age alone does not make one wise, nor is it only old men who understand what is right.” (Job 32:9) What did Elihu say next, and how did he say it?

10. What did Elihu do before he offered Job counsel? (Job 33:6, 7)

¹⁰ Before Elihu gave Job any counsel, he created the right atmosphere. How? First, he got his own emotions under control. We know this because the Bible says that at first Elihu was angry. (Job 32:2-5) Yet, not once did Elihu attack Job out of frustration. On the contrary, he spoke reassuringly to him. For example, he said to Job: “Look! I am just like you before the true God.” (Read Job 33:6, 7.) Then Elihu made it clear that he had listened carefully to Job. In fact, he summarized the key points in Job’s six speeches. (Job 32:11; 33:8-11) Elihu did something similar when he again offered Job counsel.​—Job 34:5, 6, 9; 35:1-4.

11. How did Elihu counsel Job? (Job 33:1)

¹¹ When offering Job counsel, Elihu did so in a way that dignified that faithful man. For example, Elihu used Job’s name, which the other three men apparently did not. (Read Job 33:1.) Perhaps remembering his own strong desire to speak while Job and his companions argued, Elihu also empathetically offered Job a chance to respond to his counsel. (Job 32:4; 33:32) Elihu also clearly warned Job of the danger of some of his reasoning and kindly reminded him of Jehovah’s wisdom, power, justice, and loyal love. (Job 36:18, 21-26; 37:23, 24) Elihu’s good counsel no doubt put Job in the right frame of mind to receive additional instruction, this time from his Creator. (Job 38:1-3) How could the example of Elihu have benefited those in the past, and how can it benefit us today?

12. How did Jehovah use prophets to help his people, and how could the Israelites have benefited from Elihu’s good example?

¹² How the Israelites could have benefited. Throughout Israel’s history, Jehovah appointed prophets to make his purpose known to the Israelites. For example, during the period of the Judges, Deborah provided motherly spiritual guidance to the nation and Samuel tirelessly served as Jehovah’s spokesman from his youth. (Judg. 4:4-7; 5:7; 1 Sam. 3:19, 20) Then during the time of the kings, Jehovah provided an almost continuous line of prophets to strengthen his people spiritually and to give advice to those who strayed from pure worship. (2 Sam. 12:1-4; Acts 3:24) Elihu’s example recorded in the book of Job had the potential to help faithful men and women to understand what to say and how to say it when giving counsel.

13. How can Christians today encourage fellow worshippers?

¹³ How we can benefit. As Christians, we too make known God’s will by proclaiming what is found in his Word, the Bible. Another way we do so is by using words that build up and encourage our fellow worshippers. (1 Cor. 14:3) Elders need to be especially aware of the need to “speak consolingly” to their brothers and sisters, even those who might be agitated or inclined to engage in “wild talk.”​—1 Thess. 5:14; Job 6:3.

14-15. Illustrate how an elder can imitate Elihu when giving counsel.

¹⁴ Imagine this situation. An elder learns that a sister in his congregation is feeling depressed. Commendably, he and another brother visit her to try to provide encouragement. During the visit, the sister expresses negative emotions. She mentions that although she is attending meetings and going out in the ministry, she feels little joy. How will the brother taking the lead react?

¹⁵ First, he will likely try to learn the underlying reasons for the sister’s pain. To accomplish that, he will have to listen patiently. Does she feel unworthy of God’s love? Are the “anxieties of life” breaking her spirit? (Luke 21:34) Second, the elder will look for opportunities to commend the sister. She is, after all, still attending meetings and sharing in the ministry despite feeling depressed. And third, once the elder understands the situation and what is causing the sister to feel discouraged, he will use the Bible to build up her confidence in God’s love for her.​—Gal. 2:20.

CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM THE BOOK OF JOB

16. How can we continue to benefit from the book of Job?

¹⁶ What benefits we receive from examining the book of Job! As we learned in the preceding article, this inspired account teaches us not only why God permits suffering but also how we can endure it. And as we have considered in this discussion, all of us can learn to give effective counsel by not following the bad examples of Job’s three companions but instead following the good example of Elihu. Why not review the lessons you have learned from the book of Job before offering counsel to others in the future? And if it has been some time since you have had the pleasure of reading the book of Job, make it your goal to reread this remarkable book. You will find that it is just as beneficial today as it was when it was written.