Why does a loving God allow man to suffer? This is a common question that has plagued any reader of "Job" (the book). This is an issue that challenges God's sovereignty.
God's sovereignty in this book begins when God asks Satan,"have you considered my servant,*Job?" 1:8 God does not stop here /nor does the writer, through his main character, God, he establishes the character of Job "there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless** and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" 1:8. This is countered by Satan, "Does Job fear** God for nothing?" 1:9 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household ..." 1:10 Satan then puts up this challenge: "stretch out your hand and strike everything that he has and he will surely curse you to your face." 1:11
Please take note, that Satan's challenge already reveals how he views Job: self-serving, Job's righteousness in which God delights, serves Job's purposes - richly blessed and protected, he naturally is faithful to God; it is easy to be righteous, when all goes well ...). To which God confirms His view of Job when he accepts Satan's challenge "very well then everything he has is in your hands ..." The rest is known to any reader of "Job," Job suffers immensely: his livestock, servants, sons and daughters are killed. 1:13-16. Job however maintains uprightness and integrity -
Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
May the name of the Lord be praised. 1:21
"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." 1:22
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Definition of terms
*servant - a designation for one who stands in a special relationship with God and is loyal in service
**blameless and upright - both have the same meaning - leading a morally upright life. NOT sinless.
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