PREFACE

There have been many books written about Job and why people suffer. To add to those volumes would be redundant if I were to only present the prevailing thoughts on the subject. The purpose then, of writing yet another book about Job, is to take an opposing viewpoint, although I believe a Scriptural one, about Job and about God’s purposes in allowing him to suffer. Not that this author is trying to be the devils advocate merely for the sake of being different, but that we might see deeper into what God’s message is for us in the true account of a man called Job. Albeit, not everything that I say will be entirely new or different. It has been my privilege to have been taught many truths about Job by others who have greatly inspired my thinking on the subject; and these, of course, have been a great influence upon this book. One such influence that I would recommend for those who desire a more complete study of the entire Book of Job, is a book by Jesse Penn-Lewis, The Story of Job.[1]

It has been my experience, after reading many books and listening to many sermons on the subject, that perhaps the most misunderstood and maligned character in the Book of Job, is that of Job’s wife. In the over thirty years of my Christian experience, I have never heard one kind remark about her character. To many, her attitude has been likened to that of Queen Jezebel, who was known for her cruelty in the Bible. But what kind of woman was she really, and what may we gather from her rather infamous suggestion for Job to “curse God and die”? Who or what was behind her seemingly bitter advice to her husband and was there a deeper meaning to it? Upon her very words therefore, I have attempted to base this book and to challenge God’s people to take another look at Job, Job’s wife, and God’s purpose. And speaking of words, it has been my intention to include, not only for convenience, but for the Biblical authority of what we say, all of the Scriptures upon which we base our views. What the Bible has to say is far more important than any comments of man; and it has been my experience that when only references are given, they are not usually referred to. However, more importantly, they are included that God would speak to us through His Word as we compare Scripture with Scripture. Furthermore, some Scriptures are used multiple times for the purpose of gleaning different truths from the same passage. It is, therefore, my hope and prayer, that the reader will carefully examine and meditate upon the verses that are provided, and not merely, as a formality, skim over them.

This author also realizes that some things I say will go against the grain of many believers and students of the Bible. I believe, however, that what is presented is plainly taught from Scripture and that is my only defense. If you do not immediately see from the Bible what this author sees, I only ask that you prayerfully consider and keep an open mind about what has been written. God does use other men to challenge what we believe that all of us might be more fully persuaded and grounded in the truth. What others say causes all of us to dig deeper into the Word of God, to reconfirm why we believe what we say we believe. So with that thought in mind, let us begin our study about Job and the words that his wife said unto him, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.”

The material of this website, except for that which is noted from other sources, is Copyright © 2005-2008 GodsPurposes.org. Those who wish to use any of the material contained herein for personal or non-commercial group study, may do so without permission. Those who wish to use any of this material for mass distribution are requested to contact the webmaster. Webmaster@GodsPurposes.org