The story of Job is the most ancient story within Scripture, likely by more than 100 years. His encounter with Sabeans shows this. Sabeans lived to the north of him in those days (Gen. 10:7). They were the descendants of Sheba. They later moved south to what is today Yemen. These are the same people from whom the Queen of Sheeba came who visited Solomon.
So Job likely lived in what is today Jordan or just north of it. As seen by God’s listing him with Noah and Daniel (Ezek 14:14, 20), he was a righteous person. However, God allows the devil to afflict him due to his righteous character. This affliction is also a test for Job. Although he is righteous, he has some misunderstandings concerning God’s ways. He, like his friends, believes in retributive theology. This theology says you get what you deserve. Good deeds bring only blessing, and evil deeds bring evil. So when bad happens, it can only mean you have done something wrong. Have you ever felt that way, or has someone told you that you must have a problem with your faith? One of the points of this story is that this is not true. Good people, like Job and Paul, suffer. David laments the fact that wicked people prosper (Psalm 94:3). One of the most wicked kings of the ten tribes, Ahab, reigned 22 years in luxury!
Some people feel that Job’s fear (Job 3:5) was why he suffered. Such thinking is contrary to the story and is more in line with the error of retribution theology. Job is fearing because, from his perspective, God is acting strangely. God seems to be working in the affliction to bring about pain. People with this mindset feel forgotten, forsaken, and rejected by God. Many verses in Lamentations, some in Psalms, convey this feeling. When he looks just at his affliction, he believes in God’s deliverance. When he looks through his affliction at God, he laments. He has not lost his faith in God. He does not understand why this affliction.
Job’s three friends are not friends but accusers like Satan himself. Their speeches are full of accusations against him. They pretend to speak for God but defame Him. When God shows Himself, he lets Job know that He is sovereign and can do whatever He pleases, including allowing Job’s testing. The three friends who claimed to be righteous must have Job pray for God will not hear their prayers and does not restore Job until he does. In the end, Job is again blessed and wiser than before.
Lessons to be learned: When problems happen, keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking.
Don't put God in a box because He will come out of it and show you where you are wrong.