Portion For Reading Job 1-4Job was a God-fearing man who avoided evil, had seven sons and three daughters, and was immensely wealthy. God calls Job "A good man who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil." (Job 1;8). Satan scoffs, "Why shouldn't he when You pay him so well? ... You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm." God then allows Satan to do anything he likes with Job's wealth, but not to harm him physically.
Within those two parameters of interpretation, four things call for the closest examination a reader can muster: (a) Satan’s speech to God, (b) Job’s Oath of Innocence, (c) God’s two speeches to Job and (d) Job’s two responses to God. Only a proper handling of these four keys will unlock the treasures to be found in The Book of Job.
Job’s Complaint
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? (Job 3:11-12,16,20,23) With this fivefold plaintive cry, Job opens this section of The Book of Job. [3]
Job pleads for answers from God. As a religious person, he “knows” God must have a “purpose” in sending that evil, but he cannot understand why God has “hidden” that purpose in his “heart” and not revealed it to his servants. (Job 10:13) As a rational being, Job needs those answers. “My days are past, my plans broken off, the desires of my heart…where then is my hope? Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?” (Job 17:11, 15-16) Without those answers, life is virtually meaningless.
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? (Job 3:11-12,16,20,23) With this fivefold plaintive cry, Job opens this section of The Book of Job. [3]
Job pleads for answers from God. As a religious person, he “knows” God must have a “purpose” in sending that evil, but he cannot understand why God has “hidden” that purpose in his “heart” and not revealed it to his servants. (Job 10:13) As a rational being, Job needs those answers. “My days are past, my plans broken off, the desires of my heart…where then is my hope? Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?” (Job 17:11, 15-16) Without those answers, life is virtually meaningless.
Summary
A series of misfortunes strikes Job. Three friends visit him, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, and each try to explain Job's misery in a different way. There are three speeches by each of the three friends.
A fourth man Elihu, tries to summarize the situation, offering yet another explanation of why Job is suffering. Finally the Lord Himself speaks to Job, and Job recognizes that we do not always need answers to life's problems but that we always need God Himself. Job is then healed and given material and spiritual blessings far beyond his former state.
Job is mentioned, along with Noah and Daniel, in Ezekiel 14:14, as the only ones to be saved by their righteousness. In James 5:11 Job is mentioned as a man who continued to trust the Lord even in sorrow.
Source:aboutbibleprophecy.com & bookofjob.org