Reflecting on Judaism

          The book of Job is a classic piece of literature (origins unknown) containing interesting, not to say fascinating, dialogue. It most certainly deserved to have been preserved but ever since I first read it I have wondered why it was included in the Bible. If ever there were Writings, which show God up in a bad light and which, inter alia, also detracts from his Attributes as taught to us, this is it. I will first précis the story and then give my reasons for arriving at my opinion. The actual Book is not a long one and it would be of interest if you too would read it and decide whether I have dealt with it justly.
 
          The story starts by introducing Job who is described as a man of impeccable character, God-fearing, wealthy and with a large family. One day God was sitting in judgment when Satan appeared and taunted God by saying that the only reason that Job was God-fearing was because He had bestowed upon him much wealth together with other benefits and if these were removed he would begin to curse God. God would not accept this prediction and gave Satan permission to test Job, certain he would not succeed but He instructed Satan not to hurt Job in his person.
 
          In Jewish Theology, unlike other religions, Satan has no power of his own. He is not considered to be a power separate from God, i.e. an Evil power fighting God’s Good power but rather he is the Attorney for the prosecution whose only strength is that given to him directly by God.
 
          Satan does his worst and by exerting his influence over Job’s neighbours, marauding bands and the natural elements, kills off Job’s children, servants and livestock. Job’s reaction was ‘The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away’. Satan again appeared before God who jubilantly pointed out that Job had retained his faith in Him as a just God. This, Satan replied, was because he had not been hurt in his person and if he were so hurt he would curse God.
 
          God gave Satan permission to make Job seriously ill and uncomfortable but again instructed that he was not to take Job’s life. This task Satan fulfilled but Job cursed the day he was born, not God. Job’s three friends heard of the tragedies which had befallen him and came to comfort him (Job’s comforters). Their comforting comprised in telling Job that in this life people get what they deserve and therefore Job had only received his just deserts. Job emphatically refutes this allegation and insists that he had been a good and pious person who did not deserve such punishment. Much of the book is now taken up with a discussion about reward and punishment. Finally God participates in the discussion and speaking out of a whirlwind rebukes Job for presuming to understand the ways of the Almighty. Job repents for his presumption. A new family and renewed wealth is restored to him. “They all live happily ever after.’
 
          My reservations about this story although fourfold, are not of equal strength.
 
          We are taught that God’s Attributes includes Mercy, Grace, Loving-kindness etc. and that all life is precious to Him. In this story He is portrayed as a callous God not caring about his devoted follower and actually encouraging undeserved terrible things to happen to Job, not to mention allowing the undeserved slaying of his innocent children. And for what purpose? Satisfying His Ego? What other reason is given? This is not a usual story of reward and punishment for in this story God allowed the good and innocent persons to be punished, nor does it describe the nature of the God in Whom Jews are taught to believe.
 
          The form of words which God used to rebuke Job from the whirlwind might, in many circumstances be appropriate. ‘Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ ‘Who has laid the measure thereof?’ These were the kind of questions which God threw at Job when he accused him of lack of understanding. But this form of words was inappropriate in Job’s circumstances. The reason why the bad things happened to Job i.e. the test, is stated very clearly and the discussion which ensued between Job and his friends was a very natural one. There was in the story, no concealment of the facts, the reason was stated and no great secret was implied. Yet when God rebuked Job from the whirlwind He suggested that the reason was beyond Man’s understanding. By alleging man’s lack of understanding, God, instead of apologising to Job, acted the coward. This too does not describe the God in Whom Jews are taught to believe.
 
          We are also taught that one of the inalienable Rights which God gifted to Man is the right to make Free-Will choices. How could Satan, a mere servant of God with only vicarious powers, have been confident that he would be able, and how was he able, to override these Rights and exercise influence over Job’s neighbours and the marauding bands to compel them to assist him achieve his objective?
 
          Finally, could there have been a happy ending for Job, even though he was given the opportunity of recreating a new family and new wealth bearing in mind that he had suffered, and possibly continued to suffer, the multiple bereavement of his first family? 
 April 1999