Many of God's saints have been sorely tried throughout the history of the church as well as in the age of special revelation. Martin Luther re­portedly had agonizing struggles with the devil. John Bunyan had intense personal conflicts and John Calvin was tried in body and soul with severe physical ailments. Often the most godly of men are severely tempted and tried. In the Old Testament Job stands head and shoulders above others in being faced with severe trials.

God's purpose in Job's life-story was to demon­strate to the devil and mankind the genuineness of Job's piety — the work of God's grace in him. The devil claimed that Job was a pious man because he was so richly rewarded. Satan's charge would be proved false. The book of Job became a theodicy. It raised the question of why the righteous suffer and gave an answer, justifying the ways of God with men and leading His children to acknowledge His sovereignty.

In one day Job lost all of his possessions and all of his children died. But Job persisted in the faith. Satan was not satisfied. He alleged that if Job were also deprived of his health he would renounce his faith and curse God. The devil was permitted to take away his health. He underwent almost indescribable suffering. The devil knew no mercy. Job was stricken with boils from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. His form and face were so disfigured that even his friends did not recognize him. Ulcers covered him inwardly and outwardly and emitted such a repulsive odor that people were driven from his presence. He sought refuge outside of the city on a heap of ashes, seeking to counteract the intense itch. The sufferer was haunted by horrible dreams and unearthly terrors and harassed by a sense of chok­ing. His wife was estranged, his relatives failed him, his friends forgot him and young children despised him. "Have pity on me, o my friends," he cried out, "for the hand of the Lord has touched me." But they had no pity.

Although Job's physical suffering was intense, his spiritual suffering was greater. This was aggravated by the attitude of his wife. Who ought to have been closer to him than his wife, or could have been more helpful? Instead, she was a liability. Her advice was, "Why take all this? Curse God and die — Put an end to it by suicide!" To curse God would mean that Job was "done" with God — exactly what the devil had predicted. Godly Job's answer showed how his faith sustained him. "Shall we receive the good from the hand of the Lord and not the evil?" In all this he still did not "sin with his lips." Job's response was neither fatalism, nor irration­alism, as some might think. He knew that the Lord who controls all things was his God. Submission was his proper response.

Job received some visitors, four friends. They had heard about his plight and came to console and help him. At first they did not even recognize him. See­ing him in his agony on the ash pile they sat down for 7 days watching him but saying nothing. When conversation began the question was why God makes Job suffer. Why does God make the Christian suffer? The largest part of the book is devoted to discussion of that question, and, finally, to its an­swer. Isn't this the question people still ask espe­cially when confronted by an extraordinary amount of or a strange kind of suffering? Why do sincere Christian people at times suffer more than others "not so good"? I believe that because Christians in affliction are often troubled by this question, the Holy Spirit in much of this book (chapters 3-31) helps them find the answer to it.

For Job's first three friends who speak the answer was simple. Suffering comes because of spe­cial sins. They made harsh accusations against Job. Not only must he have committed gross sins; he was also too proud to admit them. There were in his life hidden and early sins. He must have neglected to help the poor and widows. Against the numerous ac­cusations raised in the heated discussion, Job main­tained his integrity. God was not punishing him on account of such sins. Of this he was firmly convinced.

In the conversation with the friends Job revealed much about his attitude, depression and problems. "Even to this day is my complaint bitter, my stroke is heavier than my groaning. Oh, that I might know where I might find Him? That I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before Him (God)." Submerged in his troubles, he accused God of des­troying the righteous with the wicked and of laugh­ing at the trials of the innocent. He set himself up as a critic over God and denied His justice. In his de­spair he cursed the day of his birth. He even longed for death, although at times he seemed to see nothing beyond the grave. He said that there was more hope for a tree when it is cut off than for a man when he dies. A tree may bring forth shoots again, but a man does not. Elsewhere he confessed, however, that he knew that his Redeemer lived. Through these conversations, Job gives us a glimpse of the ups and downs, the highs and lows of the soul of a Christian wrestling with the problems of suffering and of life itself.

How long did this last? The Lord does not tell us. We do know that the day came when Job was deliv­ered from his sickness and given double blessings, including material things and the enjoyment of children.

We must observe that although Job sinned griev­ously, he did not curse God as Satan had predicted he would do. James speaks of the patience of Job. But was he patient? He often appeared to be the opposite. The word "patience," however, might bet­ter be translated "perseverance." Job endured severe affliction. He persevered in that he did not curse God. He continued to seek an answer in his struggle with affliction.

Job sought an answer in this life. Though he was weak he persevered in faith. The Bible promises God's blessings to those who in affliction obediently persevere in faith in Him. Do we not often see handi­capped believers become effective "preachers" of the Lord's grace as they experience God's blessings abundantly "poured out" upon them in affliction?

Later we see Christ who in His perseverance in affliction towered above all other mortals including Job. With the fuller New Testament knowledge of salvation under the guidance of the Spirit of Pente­cost, we are led, in Christ, to persevere, to reach forward to victory over affliction. Paul speaks of rejoicing in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance and perseverance Christian character, and character, hope (Romans 5:1ff.). Listen also to James as he says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Isn't that encour­aging? Where God as our Father in Christ is ac­knowledged, and we humbly submit to and wait for Him by the power of the Spirit, He grants showers of blessings. We see that at the end of the book of Job. Count such trials pure joy, says James. They develop spiritual millionaires.