Huntington Church of Christ

The story of Job is well known to Bible students. It relates the account of Satan's false assumption that men like Job only serve God because of the things He gives or does for them. Jehovah granted Satan permission to test the faith of Job. The father of all lies took away all of Job's possessions, including his ten children. He also inflicted Job with terrible sores over all of his body. On top of all of his suffering, three "friends" came to comfort Job by accusing him of sin. The only place left to turn for comfort in this world was his beloved wife and companion. She knew Job. She had faced what he had faced. Certainlly she would understand! "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? Renounce God, and die." (Job 2:9)

Little is known about Job's wife, but by her statement we can conclude the following:

Job's Wife Recognized God's Existence. Job responded to her discouragement by saying, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh" (Job 2:10). She spoke foolishly, but she was no fool. She knew there is a God. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God" (Psalms 14:1). "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalms 19:1). His existence, power, and divinity are clearly seen in created things of this world (Romans 1:20).

Job's Wife Worked For Satan. What was Satan's work? According to Job 1:11 and Job 2:5, Satan wanted Job to renounce God to his face. She helped Satan when she encouraged Job to "Renounce God." She became a tool of Satan. When we do what Satan wants, we too become servants of Satan (Romans 6:16). "Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). We must be vigilant to watch our words and actions. Whether husband/wife, parent/child, brethren or friend/enemy -- We don't want to turn others away from God.

Job's Wife Emphasized This Present Life. As she witnessed her husband's pain and suffering she counseled him to "renounce God and die." She seems to think it would be better to be dead than continue in pain. For the righteous man (like Job -- Job 1:1), this is true, paradise awawits him on the other side of death, but for the sinner (which Job would be if he renounced God) the other side of death is a place of anguish and torment (Luke 16:19-31; 23:43). The only one who is really better off in death is the faithful man of god. To wish or encourage the sinful to die and ease their physical sufferings is to banish them to eternal pain and regret. Jesus said attention should be given to our soul's well being and not to what man might do to our physical body (Matthew 10:28). Paul echoes the same thought in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, describing his physical sufferings as "light affliction" (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Let's arrange our priorities accordingly and prepare our soul for the inevitable appointment (Hebrews 9:27).

Job's Wife Spoke Foolishly. Her advice and counsel was proven to be wrong. It was a good thing Job did not follow. For of his enduring faith, Jehovah rested Job's looses two-fold (Job 42:10). "Jeshovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning" (Job 42;12). Had he listened to his beloved wife -- things would have turned out quite differently (Genesis 3:6ff). Man is not perfect and often makes poor decisions. We must learn that we cannot direct our own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). We must seek God's counsel. We must be like job and remember God is in control of all things. Job said it well, "I know that thou (God) canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained." We must learn to surrender our all to God. Again, Job's wisdom and trust was seen from the very beginning, "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10) Job's wife never swayed him to renounce God. "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly...did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 1:22; 2:10)