Back around 1270, people were saying, “the word ‘God’ means that He is infinite goodness. If God existed, there would therefore be no evil to be found; but evil is in the world. Therefore, there is no God.”[1] Sounds modern, but it’s not. People have been wondering about the so-called “problem of evil” since, well, as long as there have been people.
The Book of Job is the Holy Scripture’s lengthiest and most profound consideration of evil in the world.
The set-up
1: 6–12 [NRSV]: “One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan [הַשָּׂטָ֖ן ha-satan, meaning “the accuser”] also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’” [He answers that he’s been patrolling the world.] The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’” Then Satan replies, “Yeah but you’ve given him everything possible. But “’stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’”
Note that Satan seeks to divide Job from God by “accusing” him of being faithful only because he has done well in life. The exchange reflects Satan’s mimetic rivalry with God.
Job loses everything, children, herds, wealth, except his wife. He seems calm…
