Job's Wife

    Most of us have heard of Job and the many things he suffered. He was a well-to-do, godly man with many children and plenty of livestock. (Job 1:1-3) Many articles have been written about Job, his actions, and his words.  Not as many articles; however, have discussed his wife. When she is discussed at all, it is with a disapproving cluck of our tongues. She is considered to be an unfaithful woman by most people. (Job 2:9) I'm beginning to wonder if such an interpretation of her behavior is necessarily true.

    It is never plainly stated, so we tend to brush over the fact that all the tragic circumstances through which Job suffered were experienced by his wife, as well. She lost all of her ten children and most of her servants in freak accidents or during raids waged by other tribes of people. (Job 1:14-19) Additionally, many thousand head of livestock were stolen or destroyed.

    What we have here is a woman who has had not only her family, but also her security taken away from her instantaneously. Oxen, donkeys, and sheep--gone! Camels and servants--gone! All ten of the children she bore and raised--gone! Add to all of this tragic chaos the fact that that her beloved husband, her provider and the father of her children, was suffering from numerous maladies and illnesses. Her world was completely and totally devastated. The rug was pulled right out from under her feet. If this series of tragedies had occurred to ANY of us, how many would have emerged on the other side of this tunnel spiritually unscathed?

    It is obvious to all that Job's wife was...well, a woman. It is well known that men and women were designed by God with certain general characteristics. One such characteristic given to us women is our ability to emotionally connect. We are the ones who raise the children a majority of the time. We spend our days teaching, playing, and laughing with our children. We are the ones who would most likely connect emotionally with those who serve us, and we are the ones who, in many ways, depend on our husbands to provide us with food, shelter, and security. Now, taking all this into consideration, does it not seem possible that perhaps Job's wife might have been suffering emotionally? Perhaps, she was depressed? How many of us might possibly be hard hit by circumstances like the ones she experienced? And how many of us have considered the idea that perhaps she needed some compassion and encouragement instead of judgment?

    So, how does this affect you and me? Well, firstly, we might consider Job's wife in a more positive light henceforth. After all, wasn't she blessed two-fold in the end, also? She was almost certainly the woman who provided Job with seven more sons and the three daughters who were internationally known for their beauty.  Sometime during the course of time represented in those 42 chapters, she must have screwed her courage to the sticking place, gotten over her grief, and gotten on with life. Even though she wasn't mentioned again, she obviously stuck it out because there she was, in the end, bearing Job more children.

    Secondly, we shouldn't be so quick to judge what is behind the actions of other people. During counseling sessions I've had, I've often heard the words, "Not everything is about you, Loralee!" Sometimes, people have their own issues that guide their actions." We cannot know the reasons someone is acting in a certain way. They might be struggling through circumstances which we have never imagined or experienced! Could Job's friends have really understood the pain and suffering that he and his wife were enduring? Can we really known and understand the motives behind the actions of our brethren? Can we really know what has influenced their thinking or actions? No. Usually--we cannot. So, how do WE help our brethren who are obviously struggling?

1) Head it off at the pass.

    It seems in today's world, we are all so independent. We live our own lives and we don't share with each other. I think getting to know our brethren is one very good method of solving the problem. We have to know what makes our friends tick. How can we do that without taking the time to actually get to know them?   I've often heard it said, "A man won't care what you known unless he knows that you care." In other words, some people won't be willing to listen to your on issues of sin in their lives unless they know you have already loved and cared about them. If a virtual stranger comes up to them and starts railing on them, it won't be received or even heeded as well as the good friend who sits down in the living room and says, "You know I love you, brother.  I'm concerned about you. Let's talk."

2) Try the soft way first.

    What can it harm? When someone has finally confided in you, they're probably feeling vulnerable. Blasting them is likely to cause more harm than help. I don't know about y'all, but I'd much rather hear my faults in a soft voice than in an angry one.  If we're tempted to take the tough road, it might be good to remember that old saying, "There, but for the grace of God, go I!" We all have our own special brand of sin, you know. And we're all just one step away from sitting down in our living room and hearing the words, "You know I love you, Loralee. I'm worried about you. Let's talk."  We must show compassion, love, and gentleness.  It is hard to be at the place where you have to admit sin, isn't it? It is a very humbling experience. Let's do our best not to make the situation harder.

3) Be a continual encourager.

    We all know how hard it is to overcome sin in our lives. It is easier when we are surrounded by those who love us and who are continually spurring us on to love and good works. (Heb. 10:24) Don't let's be the one who allows someone to fall through the cracks due to our negligence. Be that continual encourager.  It sounds like a hard job to do, yeah? It is. and while we cannot, in the end, harbor the guilt for someone who continually sins without repenting, we can do our part by being a real part of their lives. We can strive to gently and kindly guide them. We can lovingly and constantly teach and encourage them so that when it's all said and done, they also can enjoy the blessings of a life with God in it, both in this life (Job 42:10-15) and in the one to come. (Job 42:16-17)