Why Would God Start His Bible Like That?

Have you ever contemplated the first book God ever wrote? I don't mean the bible as  whole, but which of the many books within  the larger bible came first? Well, I am certain many of you are answering Job. A lot of people who have been in church or around church or Judiaism at all know this simple fact. But have you ever asked yourself Why? Why would God start His story to people with a message Like JOB? I mean really, thats not the way to get converts! Admitting that You allow Satan to punish followers to test their faith?! It seems sadly cruel to start out the message of the God's story with God admitting to allowing the persecution of followers. So why would God do that? Maybe to set the stage for What following God/Christ would really entail?


We find throughout the scripture the message that those who faithfully devote their lives to the service of the One God tend to end up in many situations of rejection and struggle. Joseph, Moses, David, the Judges, Ruth, Esther, Jeremiah (most notably), and many other Old Testament examples of what faithfulness to God meant to real human lives. And Jesus Himself points to the example of these prophets to encourage the disciples in the hardships they were going to face.

^{Luke 6:22} You are blessed when people hate you,when they exclude you, insult you,
and slander your name as evilbecause of the Son of Man.
²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Take note—your reward is great in heaven, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.

I believe that the Lord begins his Own story with a truth that will weave in and out of the entire bible. The idea of rejection and struggle is a continuous message throughout the Narrative of the Bible. I find the message of Job to be an encouragement for my own testimony of faith because it speaks to not just the great truths that God controls the world and set the world in time, but because the struggle of the christian life is not without the bounds of God's good purposes, even when it feels (in every way, manner, perception) that good is the farthest thing from our reality.

I hope that if you are struggling to follow the Lord in the harder times of your faith, possibly from rejection of a Loved one, a friend, or a lost Job because of your faith....or even something more serious that you will also begin to think through some of the more obvious messages of Jesus and the Gospel. Which are meant to encourage you and sustain you in the midst of this broken and painful life!