After all the dialogue and discussion, is anyone the “winner” of this situation? What does the author want the reader to take away from this story?
Dr. Baden suggests that Job is the final book one should study as it reminds us that we don’t have any assurance in what we think we know about God. How does the ending of Job serve as a rebuke against almost all biblical interpretation, or at least, challenge the authoritativeness of interpretation?
How does the divine speech from the whirlwind respond to the needs of those who suffer? How does the book of Job as a whole serve those needs?
Applying the Text:
Dr. Baden referred to Job’s version of God as fairly unlikeable. How does the book of Job influence your understanding of God? How does this version of God challenge your ideas about God’s justice, faithfulness, and compassion?
What is the message delivered by God’s speeches? What do his words say about interpretation and the ability to question? Is that a useful model to enforce on our spiritual places and practices?
What do we do when we don’t have—or when God doesn’t give us—a satisfactory answer to our most pressing problems? Can we be content without knowing everything? How does this lack of understanding impact our faith?