The Book of Job tells a story about a man who is “blameless and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil.” He, Job, seems to have a prosperous life and is seen as one of the greatest people of the east. Job has ten children, an abundant amount of livestock, as well as numerous servants. In order to test his loyalty to God Satan takes away everything he has to see if he will blame God. Satan takes away his livestock, his servants, and his children, also Job develops blisters all over his body. Satan believes that Job only fears God and turns away from evil because he is blessed.
After all the good in Job’s life is taken away, Satan assumes that Job will curse God. However The Book of Job states, “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God, and die.’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job, 127) Which shows his beliefs are much stronger than assumed. This part of the story is similar to an article in the New York Times, For Female Marines, Tea Comes With Bullets. The article describes the women who are in the marines and their lives. The Book of Job and this article have many similarities based on with the way in which they deal with tragedy and coming to terms with the horrible casualties that happen. One female marine states in the article, “It’s not the living conditions, it’s not the mission, it’s this,” she said, gesturing toward a memorial display of boots, rifles and dog tags belonging to the dead Marines. She was, she said quietly, “too much of a girl to deal with these guys getting killed.” This female, in particular, quit the marines after seeing one of her male friends shot and killed. This shows how death, and dealing with death, can alter a persons beliefs and faith. These woman are surrounded by death and need to be able to not let it affect them.
This article and The Book of Job are also comparable on another aspect. In The Book, Job’s friends come to visit him after hearing about the evil that was brought upon him. One of his friends, Eliphaz, says in Job, “Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where the upright cut off? As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of this anger they are consumed.” (Job, 129) This excerpt shows Eliphaz thinks that people that are evil are punished and those that are virtuous are exempt from punishment by God. Eliphaz says this to Job because he does not think that God would have allowed the horrible events that happen to him if he had not done wrong. This would mean bad things do not happen to good people, which is not always the case. Many people chose to have this belief because it makes life easier to deal with. This is seen in the New York Times article as well, one female marine talks about her belief in God and her hopes that he will protect her. The article elaborates, “But she readily says that she has relied on daily prayers — she is the daughter of a Minnesota stockbroker and a flight attendant who went to church every Sunday — and faith in God to get her through. Out on foot patrols, she said, ‘my life’s in his hands.’” This belief is common among religious people, they believe that God has full control over everything that happens. Which is why when horrible events take place, like death, people believe there is a reason for it.
Although The Book of Job and For Female Marines, Tea Comes With Bullets article are alike, there is one major difference. In The Book, Job does not choose to deal with loss and pain, it is brought upon him to test his beliefs. Where as in the New York Times article, the woman marines chose to go into the military and knew what they would have to deal with. However, dealing with pain and death is not easy either way and in both situations keeping your faith is important.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/world/asia/03marines.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world&src=me
