The Unanswered Question

By Andy Tulenko

In reading the book of Job, there is a question that Job asks repeatedly which is, “Why me?”, yet the answer seems to never be given, even when God Himself speaks to Job, or is it? God speaks of Behemoth in chapter 40 and Leviathan in chapter 41, but the way in which these two seemingly mythical creatures are spoken of could very easily be related to a discussion of the knowledge of God’s motives and wisdom which are beyond the comprehension of mankind. In addition, the passage in Psalms 3:5-6 reminds mankind that one’s understanding of God’s motives is not something to lean upon, instead, the passage indicates that to trust God to do the understanding is the best answer resulting in the most favorable outcome.

Did God give Job a metaphorical answer in His remarks of the Behemoth and Leviathan? It can be argued that, yes, God was giving Job answers and it can also be argued the opposite that God’s use of the two creatures was merely an example of how difficult it would be for Job, or anyone else for that matter, to understand the answer even if it were given. However, both these arguments boil down to the same thing on either side regardless of which opinion one agrees with. In speaking to Job, God has answered the question from either perspective because from both sides, the full answer is unobtainable to the limited understanding of man.

If one travels to the New Testament, far after Job’s lifetime, another answer for Job is forthcoming through Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 when he teaches that all those who believe in Christ will suffer persecution. While this answer was never specifically stated in the book of Job, it lies at the heart of Job’s question by being the very thing that prompts the question in the first place.

The theology of Job and his contemporaries in the book begins with the understanding of the retribution principle as a complete theology of God’s motives towards mankind. As the book progresses, Job’s understanding of God’s motives is changed as he suffers through the pain and agony of incredible loss. His friends do not exhibit the same maturation of theology because they do not suffer as Job does. It is the very act of the suffering that allows Job to realize that his understanding of God is limited and there is more to God’s motivation than the simplicity of the retribution principle. Job’s friends are not able to grasp the more complex idea because they so doggedly cling to what they already believe. Because He suffers, Job realizes that there must be more to God than the “Do good, get good” idea he and his friends grew up on because he knows that he is a righteous man and yet he suffers. Job is thrown down from his limited understanding of God and forced to realize that God is greater and more complex than he ever imagined.

The first indication of Job’s realization happens as early as Job 2:10 when he asks his wife if they should accept good and not bad from God. This comment shows that Job places the blame on God for the suffering he is going through. Job does not blame the accuser, nor does he place blame on any other agency. In his limited understanding, God is the only one that is capable of doing this to him. The main struggle of “Why me?” is uppermost in his mind and he begins to examine himself to discover how and where he failed God. By 6:24, Job has decided that he is innocent of the wrongdoing his friends accuse him of, and he challenges them to point out his errors. In 7:20 he is questioning God, wondering what sin he committed that would bring this suffering on him.

In chapter 8:3-6, Bildad asks Job if he thinks God has sinned against Himself in treating Job this way. This is a re-affirmation of the retribution principle. In verse 9:15, Job has decided that he has not done anything wrong that he can recall and states this by saying,” Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him”. Job feels unable to face God Himself and make his case for innocence. He affirms his inability to confront God when he says that his own mouth would condemn him in verse 9:20.

By careful reading, the progression of Job’s realization of a deeper, more complex theology becomes obvious as he progresses through the cycles of discussion with his friends. This continues all the way until chapter 38 where God Himself arrives and pushes aside all the supposition and declaration by Job and his friends. God answers Job, but not in the way that Job is likely to fully understand. Job does realize through God’s remarks that his theology was far too simple and now he knows that God is far more than a simple premise of do good, get good.