When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold Kushner - Essay Example

The Book of Job Job was a man of God who went through a lot of difficulties in his life. He suffers many misfortunes, but he does not lose his faith in God. He is directly attacked by Satan by loosing everything but he still remains faithful in God. In the story, Satan tells God that even though Job loves Him, taking away Job’s earthly possessions would make Job dump God. Satan unleashes forces that kill the whole family of Job apart from his wife. The servants are killed and Job’s home is reduced to nothing.

Satan brags to God about the problems that Job goes through and goes on to unleash rash, boils and blisters on Job’s body. In spite of all the misfortunes, Job remains faithful and loyal to God. He does not denounce God, but he insists that he wants more explanation for the misfortunes. His friends such as Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz claim that it is his fault. However, Job is not convinced with that explanation. The three friends criticized and accused Job for his problems. It is evident that the friends were jealous of Job since he was a man of God and they were Satan’s followers.

His three friends pretended to be sorry for what Job was going throughand wept before Job. God came in the form of tornado to speak to Job. He questioned Job’s whereabouts concerning his creation. God also questioned Job’s power and knowledge of animate nature. Finally, God questioned Job’s audacity to correct Him. Job responded by saying that he was unworthy and not significant to question God’s ways and will. After some time, God reappears in the form of a whirlwind and challenged Job to prepare himself like a man ready for a battle.

God questioned him if he was convinced of his righteousness than God’s. Job responded by confessing his foolish ways and words. He agrees that God’s ways are the best. Job ends up repenting. At the end, God restores Job. He knows that Job got the incorrect guidance from his friends. God, then blessed Job with twice the wealth that he had in his possession (Kushner, p.67-83).Works citedKushner, Harold. The Book of Job: When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person. Chicago: Nextbook, 2012. Print