Have you ever wondered why Job is not listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11? I was listening to a sermon on the first chapter of the book of Job and it suddenly struck me that Job is perhaps one of the greatest examples of faith in the entire Bible. Here is a man who was beyond wealthy for the time in which he lived. He had ten children, who actually got along and met regularly for dinner. He was a blameless man, not sinless, blameless. Meaning God had no accusation against him. But Satan did.
Satan accused Job before God, saying Job only worshipped God because God had blessed him so mightily. God, knowing better, and for His glory, gave Satan permission to prove God wrong. Even after killing all Job’s children and destroying all Job’s wealth, Satan was not able to get Job to curse God. Job, upon news of his loss “arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”
And it gets worse. Eventually God gave Satan permission–note that key word as you experience your own trials; Satan can only touch what God allows–to touch Job’s health, his person. Job’s well-meaning friends try to console him but say all the wrong things, so typical of many of our attempts to comfort others. In all this Job, though puzzled and frustrated, did not curse God.
And notice, please, this is before the Cross, before Jesus, before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That can be said of others of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 as well, but here is Job, whom scholars belive to have been a contemporary of Abraham, without the LAW let alone the Cross, trusting in the goodness of this God he somehow knows–despite monumental loss. For me, that takes monumental faith. So back to my opening musing. Why wouldn’t he be listed in Hebrews 11? Other noteworthy examples are listed without names, perhaps he is considered one of the many. But given his prominent example of continuing to worship God in the midst of incredible suffering, I find it puzzling.
And maybe that’s the point. Scholars believe Job to be the oldest book in the Bible. One would think his mighty example of standing strong on the goodness of God, despite suffering, to be front and foremost. But we can know with certainty that God does not include anything, or leave anything out, of Scripture without reason. Though one could argue Job warrants an entire book in the Bible, he still isn’t named in Hebrews 11. Perhaps Job isn’t named because he is such a striking example of suffering and loss, yet belief in God’s goodness, that God would see your suffering the same. Important to Him, noticed by Him, but not mentioned in that recognition. And in the end, isn’t that what matters? God, El Roi, the God who sees, sees our suffering. He takes note. He is blessed and pleased and glorified when we can say, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
This Isn't All There Is 