Devotional Thoughts: The Patience of Job

In youth group Bible study, I came across James 5:11:

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Job isn't mentioned much in the New Testament. In fact, this verse is the only direct mention though I suppose there are other passages where you might hear the echo of Job.

Anyway, with the completion of my blog through of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, I have decided to dive into Job for the next series!

So here we go, Job 1:1.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Where is the land of Uz?

Well, this tourism company says:

One of the earliest patriarchal figures in the Bible is Job (pbuh), whose book is one of the world's great masterpieces of religious literature. The city of Salt, northwest of the Jordanian capital Amman, houses the tomb/shrine of Job, the wealthy, righteous man from the Land of Uz who endured hardships with much patience and ultimately was rewarded with God's blessing (Job 1-3; 42:10, Ezekiel 14:14). Biblical scholars have located the Land of Uz in either northern or southern Jordan.

But to those who know the land, the rich biblical description in the Book of Job perfectly describes the varied natural environment, pastoral economy, and patriarchal social structures of ancient southern Jordan, known as Edom in the Old Testament. Job's three friends are identified as being from Teman, Shuh and Naamah, areas located in and near southern Jordan.

Wikipedia says more or less the same though they claim less certainty.

What about the name Job?

I don't know anyone who has named their child Job but it does have a meaning from the Hebrew:

The boy's name Job is pronounced johb. It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "persecuted". Biblical: a man called by God "blameless and upright". Job is proverbial as an example of patience under trial.

For an artistic impression (there are 4 images) of Job, check out this web page.


Job visited by three friends - a fourth would join in later. The book of Job follows the conversations of these men as they struggle to come to grips with the suffering Job experienced.
image source: http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures/Treasures%20of%20the%20Bible%20(Job)/target2.html

Lord, whatever happens in my life, my deepest hope is that in the end of my life it would be said of me that I too was like Job, "blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." Amen.