Personal Blogs

 There was a man in the land of Us, 

whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, 

and one who feared God, and turned away from evil. 

Job 1:1 (WEB)

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You just know you are in for a good ride when you read that introduction to The Book of Job. 

I’ve often wondered how Job, a man who lived long before the written Word of God as we know it, could possess such deep knowledge of worship, morality, and faithfulness. The Bible describes him as “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1), someone who shunned evil and held fast to his integrity even in the face of unimaginable suffering. Where did this understanding come from? It’s a question that invites both speculation and reflection.

Job’s story likely takes place during the time of the patriarchs, a period when people relied on oral traditions to transmit their knowledge of God. Long before Moses brought down the tablets of the Law, the stories of creation, the flood, and God’s dealings with humanity would have been passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps Job grew up hearing these accounts around a fire, internalizing the lessons of reverence and obedience to the Creator. He might have known of Adam’s fall, Noah’s faith, or even Abraham’s extraordinary encounter with God. While there is no direct evidence that Job and Abraham ever met, I wonder if their lives might have intersected, or if news of Abraham’s covenant with God travelled far enough to reach Job’s ears.

But what strikes me most about Job is that his understanding of God seems to go beyond stories or traditions. It feels deeply personal, as though carved into his very soul. When I read Job’s speeches, his words are not mere recitations of what he’s been told—they’re profound insights born from observation, reflection, and, I suspect, a direct relationship with God. Perhaps he looked at the same stars I often gaze at on a clear night and marvelled at the power behind them. Romans 1:20 reminds us that God's invisible qualities are evident in creation, leaving no one with an excuse not to recognize His existence. Did Job see the same evidence of a Creator in the heavens, the mountains, and the life around him? I believe he did.

There’s another possibility that lingers in my mind. What if God revealed Himself to Job in ways not recorded in Scripture? The Bible hints at other individuals, like Melchizedek, who worshipped the one true God apart from Abraham’s lineage. Job might have been part of a faithful remnant who sought God with all their hearts and were guided by His Spirit. It’s humbling to think that, even without a Bible to turn to, Job knew what it meant to be faithful. His life exemplified the kind of righteousness that comes from walking closely with God.

Still, I find myself drawn to Job’s humanity. He was not a man of abstract ideals; he lived his faith in the everyday. He rose early to offer sacrifices on behalf of his children, just in case they had sinned. His awareness of sin and the need for atonement resonates with themes later formalized in the Bible. Where did he learn this? Perhaps it came from an intuitive understanding of God’s holiness, nurtured by his sincere devotion.

I also wonder if Job’s suffering sharpened his knowledge of God in ways peace and prosperity never could. In his anguish, Job wrestled with the profound questions of existence: Why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in the storm? Yet, even as he questioned, he never let go of his faith. “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). These are not the words of a man relying on second-hand knowledge. They come from a heart that knows and trusts its Maker, even in the darkest hour.

As I reflect on Job’s life, I am reminded of how privileged we are today. We have the Bible, centuries of theological insight, and the living example of Jesus Christ to guide us. Yet, I sometimes wonder if we, with all our resources, have the same depth of faith as Job. His unwavering devotion, born out of limited knowledge but boundless trust, challenges me. It makes me pause and ask: Do I truly live as someone who knows God, or do I merely know about Him?

Job’s story is a reminder that God has always made Himself known to those who seek Him. Whether through creation, conscience, or divine revelation, He ensures that His truth is never out of reach. Job’s faith wasn’t the product of chance; it was the fruit of a heart attuned to the Creator. And perhaps that is the greatest lesson of all: that even in a world without written scriptures, Job found God because he sought Him with all his heart.

I’d like to think Job’s life speaks across the ages, whispering to us in our modern complexity: Seek, trust, and hold fast, for the God who revealed Himself to Job is the same God who reveals Himself to us today.

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