Job
The issue of innocent suffering
The Book of Job is a parable that examines the issue of innocent suffering. The protagonist is a righteous man, who is severely tested by Satan, with the Lord’s permission. Satan takes away the many goods that Job possesses, kills his sons and daughters «and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head» (Job 2,7). Why so much suffering without a reason? The three friends who join him are trying to justify the action of the Lord with the empty speeches of traditional religion, roughly summarized in “if God has punished you, He certainly is right and you are guilty”. Job, however, does not accept their position: he professes his innocence, from chapter 7 he calls God by name, speaking to Him heartfeltly, even violently, to the limits of blasphemy. In 7,17-20 we can read a sarcastic parody of some of the Psalms, Israel’s prayer: the greatness of man (Psalm 8) has turned into misery; the Israel’s Keeper (Psalm 121) is now a “cop” that controls and punishes without a reason; the Lord’s look, from moments of intimacy and protection (Psalm 139) has turned into malevolent and oppressive attention.
In chapter 38 (after the speeches of a fourth friend, Elihu) the Lord manifests himself, not explaining the reason for the pain of the just man, but reminding Job of the wonders of creation. This apparent strangeness could be resolved like this: there is a world that largely exceeds and towers over man’s control and understanding, but not God’s one. The Lord provides for all things with goodness and He maintains everything in order. Job gained a new communion with God, which no longer depends on the received gifts (it is the answer to Satan’s provocative question in 1,9: «Does Job fear God for nothing? [...]»), but feeds on the confidence in His ineffable Providence. «I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you» (Job 42,5). The Lord does not forget to blame Job’s three friends «for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has» (Job 42,7). «This way God wants to be treated by the man who suffers: honestly, with labored search, with courage to avoid surrendering, till the meeting, which is His gift. Like this a true servant speaks. The remaining, the pious commonplaces, the rigidly constructed system, the hypothetical truth without love offend and irritate Him» (Giobbe. Commento teologico e letterario, L. Alonso Schökel - J. L. Sicre Diaz, Borla, 1995).