A Theology of Fear ( Part 1: Exonerating Job)

 

Carved wooden figure of Job. 1750-1850. The Wellcome Collection, London

The theme for that week’s Bible study: life’s problems. Someone mentioned Job’s sufferings. Another person asked, “Do you think Job saying, ‘The thing I greatly feared has come upon me,’ shows that his fear caused his problems?”

When I consider that verse in context with the entire book of Job—and with the rest of the Bible—I never think that Job’s sufferings are the result of his fears. But the question set me to thinking about a Biblical theology of fear.

Let’s begin by putting the person Job into perspective.

Job in Context

Here’s how Job is introduced— “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1, NKJV).  Thinking contrary to God’s ways repulsed Job. Whatever fear he felt, above all, Job respected and followed God’s precepts.

The Holy Spirit would not have guided someone to write those things about a man we should recall for having destructive thoughts. What God says about Job is even more helpful.

In the opening chapter, God tells Satan,  “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8, NLT).

Then in the final chapter, God tells Job’s friends, ““My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7, ESV). God’s last words to them are “And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has” (42:8, ESV).

God speaks of Job only in glowing terms. As a man of extraordinary character who’s in good standing with Him. There’s no hint whatsoever that God held Job responsible for his predicament. Chapter one establishes the real cause of Job’s troubles: Satan attacking him.

Job’s Trials in Context

What was Job’s fear? Moreover, how could his inner feelings have turned what he feared into a tangible reality? Here are the things he suffered before he said, “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, And what I dreaded has happened to me” (3:25, NKJV), and why his fear couldn’t have caused them.

• Job’s fear didn’t steal or destroy his livestock. Any concern he felt that they might be stolen had no control over the Sabeans taking his oxen and donkeys (Job 1:14-15) nor the Chaldeans rustling his camels (1:17). Nor could Job’s thoughts have evoked a fire from the sky that consumed his sheep (1:16).
• Job’s fear didn’t control the weather that killed his children. A wind of tornado strength caused the building where his children ate and drank to collapse onto them (1:18-19). Jesus made it clear that God controls the weather. He said God sends sunshine and rain on both the godly and the ungodly (Matthew 5:45).
• Job’s fear didn’t make him break out with boils. The Bible says clearly that Satan brought them on him (Job 2:7).
• Job’s fear didn’t persuade his wife to suggest he curse God and die. Her husband’s extreme losses affected her too. When she expressed her feelings, Job denounced her line of thinking (2:9-10).

Job’s Fear and Faith in Context

Job may have rightfully believed his livestock was in jeopardy. The Sabeans and Chaldeans were marauders who frequently helped themselves to other people’s property.

Job felt uneasy about his children’s spiritual well-being. (1:5). That concern has driven a lot of Christian parents to pray for their children.

But what was Job’s response to his whirlwind tragedies? When Job lost everything, he worshiped God. Yes, he feared certain things. However, in his darkest hour, Job’s faith shined through stronger than his fear. Job 2:10 states emphatically that Job did not sin by anything he said.

Furthermore, God did not punish Job for any fear he felt, no matter how strong it may have been. Instead, God rewarded Job’s faith with twice as much as he had before (42:10), gave him comfort from other family members (verse 11), and granted Job another 140 years of life (verse 16).

Healthy Fear in Context

We teach children to avoid things that can hurt them. Hot things. Sharp items. Busy traffic. Strangers. We create a protective environment of healthy fear.

As adults, we all fear something. A few common fears top most people’s lists. For some, it’s vermin; they abhor rats, snakes, roaches, or spiders. For others, it’s extreme physical locations, so they stay clear of boarding a ship or an airplane, or evade crowds or closed in spaces. Researchers constantly conclude that the most common fear is public speaking.

Fear can be our enemy. But in the right situations, fear can be a gift from God.

The Road Ahead:

Job had some outstanding qualities worth imitating. Let’s look at two of them to practice in the place of fear.

1. Job trusted God. How deep into an ocean of problems are you willing to sink while trusting God to be with you? If things do get worse, God has promised His presence. From the midst of his misery, Job said of God, “Even though He kills me; I will hope in Him” (Job 13:15a, AMP).
2. Job remained patient. As Christians, we live in hope. But hope needs patience. Here’s the only mention of Job in the New Testament— “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11, NKJV).

Further Fuel: Psalm 56:3; John 14:27.