As it is known, both Testaments, the fundamental Jewish and Christian ancient sacred texts that constitute the Bible, are a collection of recorded folk myths and historical processes of the West Bank, Eastern Mediterranean, and Mesopotamia. Moreover, these are also principal religious treatises of Hebrew and Christian philosophy where theories, justifications, and concepts are presented through stories. These stories often have characters who have either a multilevel moral problem associated with their faith or existential issues, dilemmas, and conflicts of external nature. “Blameless and upright” Job, the person “who feared God and shunned evil,” is the person who faced all these hardships and challenges due to the dispute between God and Satan (New international version (NIV), 1973, Job 1:1). Job’s story serves as an existential, ontological justification and counterargument against those individuals who claim that God is not omnipotent and merciful and that the power of the human mind is sufficient to cognize God and his creation.
The plot driver of all events in the Biblical story of Job is Satan. He questions the strength of Job’s faith, telling the Creator that “but now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (New King James Version, 1982, Job 1:11). Baited by this phrase, God accepts Satan’s challenge and allows him to test Job. In a brief and unnatural period, the latter experiences a great deal of tragedy and loss and eventually begins to question and meditate on the divine plan. One might say that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar are metaphors for Job’s thought processes (New American Bible (revised edition), 2010). When Job’s faith limit is nearing its end, God appears before him and rewards his commitment and repentance (New international reader’s version (NIRV), 2014). Job serves as an example of religious fortitude and steadfastness for Jews and Christians.
References
New American Bible (revised edition). (2010). BibleGateway. Web.
New international reader’s version (NIRV). (2014). BibleGateway. Web.
New international version (NIV). (1973). BibleGateway. Web.
New King James Version (NKJV). (1982). BibleGateway. Web.