Week 24 Job 2
Job loses everything except his life. And his wife. After the hammer fell she’s around to ask him an interesting question (are you still holding on to your integrity?) She also offers Job some religious advice (curse God and die!)
Job’s wife takes the understandable (and maybe normal) view that when something bad happens curse God. It seems like “god-damn god” is a common enough reaction to adversity. (A guy thinks I might maybe thank the Lord for his benefits but – god-dammit! – I ’m definitely gonna damn him when bad things happen.)
Job’s reply-question to his wife is: shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? The bible doesn’t say it but I think Job’s wife’s answer would be “No. I’ll accept good from God but not adversity”.
Let’s say Job and his wife are asked to fill out a questionnaire: What Can I Expect From the Lord? There are three choices: a) good things b) adversity and c) both of the above.
Job’s wife would check a) and Job would check c). It’s choice c) that really separates Job from the rest of the pack.
Earlier in the chapter Satan had predicted that adversity would push Job to the point of cursing God. As it turned out Satan’s prediction didn’t come true. At least not in Job’s case. I can’t say for sure with his wife…but she came tantalizingly close.
Note: quote from Job 2:9-10 & see 2:4-5 (NIV)