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The Accusing Angel In John Steinbeck's The Book Of Job

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The Book of Job tells the story of a man who is a servant of God, “perfect in integrity, who fears God and avoids evil.” (Pg.6). The story centers on the profound suffering Job faces when an Accusing Angel decides to challenge Job’s faith in God (pg. 6). As Job is tested the following questions have risen from its readers. Is Job patient? Is he impatient? Some people read The Book of Job and think it tells the story of an incredibly patient man, who withstands immense trials and yet never experiences aggravation with the test God allows to fall upon him. Others see Job as impatient; because he expresses frustration with the trials he is given and cries out to God to end his life (pgs. 8, 13, 21, 48, 57). I argue that Job is both patient and …show more content…

Job is tested for his faith, trust, and love for God (pg. 6). The Accusing Angel is focused on proving God wrong, on making Job lose faith (pg.6). Job is called a great follower of God, by God Himself and the Accusing Angel clearly does not like that God has shown so much favor on Job (pg. 6). The test that Job is given by the Accusing Angel, and allowed to be given by God, challenges Job’s relationship with God to see if it is a legitimate relationship or not. As humans we know that every relationship is tested at some point or another, whether it be a friendship, a relationship with a family member, or a relationship with a significant other. When relationships are challenged they fall apart or make it through the struggle, this is how we know if a relationship with our loved one is strong and durable or if it is shallow and weak. God and Job have a relationship; God says that they do on page 6 when He references Job as one of his servants. As Job is tested, so is his relationship with God, does he truly love and trust God to be able to make it through the struggle? On page 33 Job makes it clear that “Only God is wise” and he will do his part and stay faithful to God in the trial so that they can still have a relationship. Job does not know why God allows for this test to fall upon him and cause the potential destruction of their relationship, but he believes that God is doing what needs to be done, whether he understands it or not and whether he agrees with it or not (pg. 27,

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