The story of Job, one of my favorites in the Bible, because it shows the confidence of a man in a God who does as He pleases, of a man who was subject to weaknesses when He saw such terrible trials arrive in his life. And this is important, since the Bible begins by giving us a great curriculum of Job, but in the end it is not sought to exalt Job, but the greatness and power of God.
From the very first chapter, Scripture presents Job as an upright, righteous man who feared God and turned away from evil. He was blessed abundantly, not only with material wealth but also with a family and a respected position among his people. However, the narrative quickly shows us that these blessings were not the foundation of Job’s faith. When everything was taken from him in a short period of time, his possessions, his children, and later his health, Job faced the reality that many believers eventually encounter: faith that is tested through suffering.
After all that Job lost, the Bible tells us that several of his friends went to give him certain words, among them is Elihu, who in chapter 36 of the book of Job exalts the greatness of God in the midst of Job’s terrible calamity.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Job 36:5
God truly is great, and Elihu knew why he said it. Unlike the other friends who focused on accusing Job or trying to explain suffering with limited human logic, Elihu reminds us that God is far above our understanding. His greatness is not diminished by our pain, nor is His wisdom limited by our inability to comprehend His purposes. Elihu’s words direct Job’s eyes away from himself and back to the sovereignty of God.
We do not know how old this book is, as some scholars say it was the first book to be written. But regardless of this, we see throughout the Bible that God is really great. The message of Job fits perfectly with the testimony of all Scripture, which consistently reveals a God who reigns with power, justice, and mercy, even when His ways are not immediately clear to us.
God gave freedom to his people Israel from the midst of the people of Egypt, made them victorious by the Red Sea crossing on dry ground, and none of their enemies could touch them. This was not because Israel was strong, but because God is mighty. In the same way, the Bible tells us of many more acts of greatness that the Father performed to save His people from their enemies, always demonstrating that victory belongs to Him alone.
The lesson we learn from Job is not that the righteous will never suffer, but that God remains sovereign even in the midst of suffering. Job questioned, lamented, and even struggled to understand what was happening to him, yet he never stopped recognizing that God was in control. His story teaches us that weakness does not disqualify faith, and that honest cries before God are part of a genuine relationship with Him.
In the end, God did not give Job a detailed explanation of his suffering. Instead, He revealed His greatness, His authority over creation, and His unmatched wisdom. That revelation was enough. Job understood that trusting God does not require having all the answers, but resting in the assurance that God is good, powerful, and faithful.
God is great, do you believe that? Believing it means trusting Him not only in times of abundance, but also in seasons of loss, silence, and pain. Like Job, we are called to place our confidence in a God who is mighty in strength and wisdom, and who never despises those who seek Him, even in the darkest moments of life.