Job’s three friends, on the other hand, instead of comforting him, gave him bad advice and even accused him of committing sins so grievous that God was punishing him with misery. Though depressed enough to curse the day of his birth (Job 3:1–26), Job never cursed God (Job 2:9–10) nor did he waver in his understanding that God was still in control. Most men would sink into depression and perhaps even become suicidal after such massive loss. It’s hard to imagine losing everything we own in one day-property, possessions, and even children. Job never lost his faith in God, even under the most heartbreaking circumstances that tested him to his core. God restored Job’s fortunes two-fold (Job 42:10) and 'blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part' (Job 42:12). Job did so, likely forgiving his friends for their harshness himself.

God told them to offer sacrifices and that Job would pray on their behalf and God would accept Job’s prayer. God told Job’s friends that He was angry with them for speaking falsehoods about Him, unlike Job who had spoken truth (Job 42:7–8). Job responded to God’s discourse in humility and repentance, saying he had spoken of things he did not know (Job 40:3–5 42:1–6). Job 38-42 contain some of the most stunning poetry about the magnitude and might of God. A younger man, Elihu, attempted to speak on God’s behalf before God, Himself, answered Job. But Job maintained his innocence, though he confessed that he wanted to die and did ask questions of God. Job’s friends were certain that Job must have sinned in order to deserve punishment and argued with him about it. Job grieved deeply but did not charge God with wrongdoing (Job 1:22 42:7–8). Later, God allowed Satan to afflict Job physically.

So, God allowed Satan to take away Job’s wealth and his children. Satan accused Job of honoring God only because God had blessed him. The Bible tells us that one day Satan presented himself before God and God asked Satan what he thought of Job. He had ten children and was a man of great wealth. Job was 'blameless and upright he feared God and shunned evil' (Job 1:1). Job was a believer he knew that God was on the throne and in total control, though he had no way of knowing why so many terrible tragedies were occurring in his life. Job’s life is also one that prompts the common question, “ Why do bad things happen to good people?” It is the age-old question, and difficult to answer, but believers know that God is always in control, and, no matter what happens, there are no coincidences-nothing happens by chance. The life of Job demonstrates that humans are often unaware of the many ways God is at work in the life of each believer.

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