I had a discussion not too long ago about the Book of Job, and we both concluded that, though the writing is rather lengthy and requires a lot of time to dig into all of its content, the basic gist of the book is pretty easily grasped. I would say the text teaches us two fundamental truths:
The first truth is found in Job’s response to his ordeal. After his trial began, everything he says basically boils down to this question: “What did I do to deserve this?” That is the timeless, grief-stricken cry that everybody either has asked or will ask at some point in their lives. What did I do to deserve this horrible thing?! Do you want to know the horrible answer?
“Nothing.”
You didn’t do anything to deserve it. Having said that, there’s another way to look at it, which the Book of Job reveals. “What did I do to deserve this?” According to the Bible, the answer is “you were faithful and Satan hates that.”
Second, there’s the truth that the BOOK of Job reveals, but which the MAN Job didn’t understand at first: God was Job’s biggest champion. It was the Devil who was against him. To put it in human terms: God “believed in” Job. God knew Job could be faithful no matter what (Job 2:3), and Job proved Him right. That’s the ultimate lesson of the book.
God is good all the time, no matter what…and we can be too, no matter what, if we choose to be.
~Matthew