Job’s wife spent about 15 or more of years carrying children.There are only 3 verses in reference to Job's wife; they are Job 2:9 (curse God and die), Job 19:17 (My breath is offensive to my wife} and Job 31:10 (may my wife grind another man's grain). She is not looked upon as a good person. I've heard many preachers and theologians who use Job's wife as an example of a lousy wife, and rightfully so. She is the one who told Job to deny God and die. many Bible commentators have demonized her. Augustine labeled her "the devil's accomplice." Calvin called her "a diabolical fury." But to me, she is an unsung hero who stayed with an ailing husband and lived through the agony of burying her 10 children. Another wife for Job is never mentioned, so the assumption would be it was the same wife. The reason for that assumption is the birth of 10 more children in Job 42:13. Without Job’s wife, there would not have been a second Job. We see that God replaced everything in twofold including his children, but not his wife. I believe the same wife was with Job before and after.
I think she was a very faithful and committed and loving wife. In these days of divorces with flimsy reasons, Job's wife stands out as a remarkable woman who stayed through it all. Some of the recent newspaper repots about divorces show how self-centered our society has become. Anjali filed for divorce after 3 years of marriage and one child, because she did not want to move when her husband got transferred. The Mumbai court ordered her to follow the marriage wows and follow him. Anoop filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage, because he did not want his wife to go back to college, the judge denied that one. In China, a woman pleaded for divorce due to her husband's snoring and she became ill on lost sleep.The judge granted it and ordered the husband to pay for her medical expenses. A US man filed for divorce because his wife talked too much. Another US woman filed for divorce stating that she likes the toilet paper hanging down on the outside, while her husband of 14 years always changes it backwards, and she couldn't take it any more.
Job's wife had an endurance that is remarkable, a commitment that could not be broken by the worst of situations, and a faithfulness that exceeded any other. She kept her wedding wows that 'promises to stay with each other--through good times or bad times, in sickness as in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse 'till death do us part'. While we weep with Job, we miss the faithful, loving presence of his wife. She put aside her own grief to stay and care for her husband. Imagine the exhausting drain, caring for a suffering soul like Job. Imagine the loud howls of agony, hour after hour, day after day. Imagine the one you love walking the thin line of sanity, suffering excruciating, debilitating pain. Every human has moments words and thoughts we'd love to take back. Perhaps her advice to Job wasn't born out of her own misery, but out of compassion. Day after day, she witnessed her husband live out his days in utter agony, no relief in sight. Maybe she was seeking the most compassionate way out for Job when she said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). These are tough words that appear to reflect a heart bitter and angry toward God; words shared at the lowest point of a woman's life. Haven’t we all done that at some point if we are honest?
It is not easy to be Job’s wife. We don't read God condemning her anywhere, nor should we. I believe God kept her through the trials, and to the blessing at the end even though we don't read about her at the end. We don't see Job condemning her, rather he is being patient with her. He says you "speak like a foolish woman speaks" Job 2:10. To me, he is not condemning, but being compassionate. He was more understanding of her state of mind and reminding her to remember God's promises and goodness. I believe she was a hardworking and nurturing mother. Her name is not even mentioned though she mothered 20 children. That is the role of many of our women in our families. They quietly do their jobs, suffer through the trial, staying close by the family raising children. They never get tired of taking care of children and family. If we look around, we see a lot of mothers, who are like Job’s wives. They never get tired.They have the best for their children and their family. No one else in this world compares to their beauty inside and outside. "Many women do noble things, but a [good mother] surpasses them all." (Prov 31)
Click the link below to hear more
Blessings
Mathew Philip
Comments
Post a Comment