When Job understood the wisdom, power, and care of God, he no longer required any explanation of his circumstances. Quite the opposite: Job realized that he had tried to criticize God in ignorance, and now he repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:1‑6).

The book of Job makes sense to us readers because we know what happened outside the story. We know that Job was a righteous man. We know that Satan slandered Job before God, and we know that God granted Satan permission to test Job. We know that Job’s sufferings were part of a larger cosmic drama. We also know how the story turned out.

If we place ourselves in the world of the story, however, it makes considerably less sense. Job is a righteous man upon whom God’s blessing rests. Suddenly God’s blessing is removed, only to be replaced by something that appears to be God’s judgment. Inside the story Job’s friends draw all the wrong conclusions. Job himself is confused. He feels betrayed. He balks at the treatment that he is receiving.

Too often we assume that Job eventually came around to God’s point of view because he was given the explanation for his trials. After all, we know the explanation, so why shouldn’t Job? This assumption, however, overlooks an important consideration. Nowhere in the book does God tell Job what is happening. Job never receives an explanation—yet in the end he submits to God in worship and awe.

Rather than offering an explanation, God confronted Job with His own power, care, and wisdom. Job saw God as bigger, and himself as smaller, than he had ever imagined. Job also realized that God was deeply involved in the daily nurture of His creatures.

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