[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by OBW

I will admit that the "life happens" is too simplistic.

But, while I like your synopsis of the book, let's take a slightly different look at it. The following represents a more modern version of how the discussion between God and Satan might have gone (you need a kind of Bill Cosby thinking for it):

SATAN: Hey dude. I note that you've got all these people worshiping you by giving them lots of stuff and protecting them from problems. I bet they wouldn't be so loving and loyal if you took away their protection and they lost it all.
GOD: First, stop with the "dude" stuff. That you rebelled and I didn't just terminate you should be enough. . . . You are probably right about some of them. But I'm confident that Job would not do that.
SATAN: Really? He's one of the richest men around. I bet it wouldn't take very much for him to sing a different tune.
GOD: You're on. His life must be spared.

NARRATOR: Time passes and Job loses a bunch of his stuff. But he remains faithful.

GOD: See what I told you?
SATAN: Double or nothin'. We didn't make it hard enough. Take away everything . . . except his wife. She'll nag the Hell into him. And we should give him some really horrible disease.
GOD. Done.

If we think that Job learned more about God, that is a terribly safe statement. But outside of the little bit that Job says on his own part, this is not a major thing.

So far so good, but this only covers the first couple of chapters.

Originally Posted by OBW

So it is hard to insist that "Job reveals" what is virtually hidden in the closet. The account does not really comment on that or point at it. It is not like Job spent a bunch of time developing character. Rather, he managed not to break character and still managed to get a bit of a chewing on. Of course he would respond positively to God's words. He was the most righteous man in the vicinity. And any of us would be impressed if God actually came and spoke directly to us. Not belittling his response.

Besides, if Job reveals how God "builds" a man, then there aren't too many "built" men.

Precisely. When God says "have you seen my servant Job..." it is hard to imagine that anyone could measure up other than Jesus. So Job is about the best man can do, kind of like Lebron James, but Jesus is the fulfillment of what is being discussed.

Originally Posted by OBW

("If that is your definition of an accomplished woman, I daresay that I'm surprised at your knowing any such women." Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice.) Few of us ever have the pleasure of receiving 1/4 of the circumstances that Job did, therefore could never hope for much building if that is the way it happens.

This is the way it always happens. The minute you proclaim that this person or that person is the best in the whole world then all the scrutiny, attack, accusations, etc. will begin to fly. Once again, my example of Lebron James.

Originally Posted by OBW

I think Paul discussed it much better in more than one place. "All things work for good" is only one possible source of such a teaching.

How about Jesus word that if you want to follow Him you need to bear your own cross.

Originally Posted by OBW

Those are much more recognizable to the ordinary person. We really don't have any idea how to comprehend losing your children, servants, animals, and production from your land, followed by a round of leprosy that would spell the end for most. It is too far beyond our experience to be of much meaning. The more likely result of taking Job as the revelation of God building man would be "I like myself the way I am, thank you." I think Job would agree if given the opportunity to chime-in about what was about to befall him prior to it happening. Or even after for that matter.

He did chime in after. We all die, if you are not ready for that then you are in for a big shock. Also the Bible is very clear that no one is promised a certain number of years. You are given this moment, no guarantees about anything more than that.

Originally Posted by OBW

But you still have not provided what I see as a basis for accepting that God reveals how he builds man (a man?) in Job. You have covered a lot of stuff. But not really dealt with the question. I'm not saying that you can't read it any way you want. Or that it is not possible that it could be used as an example of God using circumstances. But the "build" part is so obscure that I find it difficult to impossible to see.

Surely it is not impossible to see in the NT, with Jesus, with Paul, in the Epistles, with Peter. I don't think the book reveals much about the details, but rather the purpose. When I read all of God's words it seems He is saying that we can trust that He knows what He is doing. When I read all of Job's friends words and Job's words it appears that these are the backseat drivers, the proverbial "too many cooks in the kitchen".

But there is a wonderful fit with Jesus. If we consider that the book of Job is talking about Jesus then we can all see very clearly that it was necessary that all this evil befall Jesus for our salvation. We can see that in resurrection and Ascension Jesus latter end was greater than the beginning. And we can see that everything that befell Jesus was at the hands of Satan, yet it worked out according to God's plan to get a man after His own image and likeness. A man with an arm like God and a voice like God.