The World's Okayist Pastor

Today’s reading from the book of Job ends the lectionary’s readings for the book and we won’t see it come up again very much for a couple of years. Job is a book that should cause us to pause and wonder about what is going on with our canon. Why was this book included in the 37 that became the Christian Old Testament? We begin the Christian Bible by reading of the good works that God does in creation (noting that they are all good and that God was pleased), walking with God’s chosen people, and taking care of the people. And although God does get upset with God’s people, much like a parent gets upset with their child; God never stops loving all of creation. Then we hit the book of Job and well the image that one can read doesn’t sound like the God we’ve come to know and love. God has taken a pious man, a man who has done well for himself and his family and seems to put him through the ringer. Job’s family and wife are removed from him; he loses his possessions, and just seems to be a