Monthly Archives: October 2010

The Book of Job narrows the story of a man named Job. In the story Job is a man like no other in earth, irreproachable and honest who devotes his entirely life to serve and does as God says;               “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil.” (A, 126)

            Though Job is a blameless man and has never sin, God allows him to suffer and to endure a great deal of sorrows;                         “And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power; only spare his life.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and afflicted Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” (A, 127) 

 Job knows deep in his heart he has never done anything against God’s will to justify his mistreatment by God. He refuses to believe he has done something wrong to deserve his punishment;            “If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, […] and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand; this also should be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.” (A, 134)

            Birtukan Mideksa, a leader and activist in Ethiopia, finds herself in a similar position as Job. She is sentenced to life in prison by the authorities of her country, but she refuses to believe and to acknowledge any wrong doing, because she knows deed in her heart she has not done anything wrong and the accusations are untrue;               “She was imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression and association,” said Michelle Kagari, the organization’s deputy Africa director.” (The New York Times)

               The Associated Press. “Senior Opposition Leader in Ethiopia Is Released From Prison” The New York Times. Web October 6, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/world/africa/07ethiopia.html?_r=1&ref=africa>

In the book of Job is the story of the ultimate test. Job is a man who contently lives with many blessings and is very righteous with God.  “ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was job; and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil” (BOJPg.126).  After a talk with Satan, God agrees to allow him to take everything precious to Job away from him to prove that no matter the misfortune bestowed upon him he will not curse God or speak his name in vain. After enduring the heartbreak of losing everything he ever had Job still does not speak poorly of God and for this he is rewarded with gaining everything back. ”I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth” (BOJPg.132/21). The fact that Job does not blame God for his tragedy is similar to the story of one unfortunate woman from Haiti who is mentioned in the New York Times article Haitians Cry in Letters-‘Please-Do Something!’.

The Haitian earthquake was a devastating tragedy that destroyed millions of lives. Those who were lucky enough to survive lost all their belongings and more unfortunately lost their families including spouses and children. In the New York Times article, many homeless Haitians who are living in camps only have hope in writing letters to nongovernment agencies seeking any assistance they can get. One might think that after suffering such a terrible loss a person might easily question and doubt God and his doings. That is not the case with one Haitian woman who lost her husband and her home. In the article she is quoted as saying, “I give glory to God that I am still alive-but I would like to stay that way” (NYT9/19). Similar to Job, she does not curse God for her loss and misfortune but actually praises him for her survival.

An article in the times discusses about the idled NATO supply trucks that were attacked again by the militants and criminals in the border of Pakistan. The truck that contains supplies for the NATO troops in Afghanistan. There have been several attacks and even a driver killed but the truck drivers still move on to deliver the supplies. But now, the trucks have now been stalled for the sixth day on the 5th of October 2010. The Senior Superintendent of police of Islamabad said that, “this is a private business and they have their own security.” No matter how dangerous it is the drivers are still in the effort to deliver the goods and supplies. They do not complain the NATO about the trouble they have bringing the goods. The militants and criminals of Afghanistan are the Satan, similar to the story in the Book of Job.

In the Book of Job, Job is one wealthy and happy man who is truly devoted to God. He has all the things that a human needs in his life: a happy family, wealth, properties and cattle’s and many other things. When Satan asks god to find out how Job’s devotion was, he was allowed to test him. “But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” ( 1:11 ). All the wealth that he had was taken away from him, but still he is truly devoted. And Satan said “But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face” (2:5 ). Then he is given illness and still he is devoted to the god the same he was before. “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”(2:10). i find it be the similar case of the article because the attacker of the trucks (Satan) took away all the goods and supplies and also killed one of the drivers, but they are still in the progress of delivering the supplies.