The book of Job in the Old Testament describes a man who experienced great suffering. He faced and overcame severe hardships. He was a wealthy family man and lost almost everything he valued. He lost his children. He lost his financial security, and he lost his health.

The story of Job describes his struggles and his attempts to understand his sufferings. Job faced tremendous hardships, but he also triumphed over his circumstances. In the end Job was restored by God. Job received back his physical health, prosperity, and family.

Many people emphasize the sufferings of Job. The emphasis should not be on the suffering of Job, but on his victory and triumph over his limiting circumstances. He overcame his limiting circumstances with the help of God. Job is a wonderful story of a man's triumphing over limiting circumstances by the grace of God.

Job was a Good Man
Many people think bad things do not happen to good people. Life is not always fair. Many times bad things do happen to good people. Job was the best man on earth during his day.

Listen to what God said about Job: "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8).

God gave Job a great character reference. He said he was an upright man and reverenced God and hated evil. God was not angry at Job. God thought Job was a good man.

Job had a Spiritual Enemy
Unfortunately, Job does not know he has an accuser working against him. Satan was accusing him before God. The devil came to kill, steal and destroy. The devil opposes everything good. Job could not see the spiritual enemy who was about to attack him.

The devil accused Job before God (Job 1:9-11). God acknowledged the devil's right to steal, kill and destroy. However, God never changed is faithful confession about Job:

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
(Job 1:12)

After Satan leaves God, Job finds himself in the middle of tremendous turmoil. Raiders come and steal his oxen, donkeys and camels. Raiders kill his servants. A lightning storm kills all his sheep. His sons and daughters are having a party and a tornado kills them all (Job 1:13-19).

Job Wrongly Blamed God for His Problems
Job did not know Satan had the power to attack him. Job could not read the book of Job and see behind the scenes. He thought God was the source of his distress. Job did not understand the devil was the force behind death and destruction.

Job did not know any better so he blames God for his problems. Although Job thought God took his family and wealth from him, this was not true. The death and destruction were the result of Satan's attacks against him.

Notice this verse said Job had not sinned or charged God foolishly. Job was not held accountable for not knowing who it was that came to steal, kill and destroy. Job thought it was God because he did not know any better.

Job's problems became even worse. After he lost his children, servants and possessions, the devil once again accused Job before God. Again, Job's statements were untrue concerning God. (Read James 1:13,17). Job entered into a time of deep despair. His friends came and tried to help him, but his friends did not know any more about the cause of his problems than he did.

Job's Friends Wrongfully Condemned Him
Job's friends believed Job had committed some terrible sin and was being punished by God. This was not true. God was pleased with Job. God was not angry at him.

Job's friends tried to convince Job his sufferings were brought about because of his wickedness (Job 2:11-32:1). This could not have been further from the truth. Job was a great example of a decent human being.

God does not punish people for their sins by inflicting them with sickness and poverty. God does not punish people by killing their loved ones. When Job's friends claimed God was punishing Job with disease, poverty and the death of his children and servants, God became angry at them.

God is not pleased when we attribute death, disease and destruction to him. God is good and not evil. Job's friends did not correctly perceive the source of Job's problems, and God would not accept them until they made an offering and Job prayed for them.

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