MRS.  JOB

Mother's day is usually illustrated by reference to the very best examples of what a mother should be, and that is a proper way to pay tribute to those who mean so much to us. Still, as I contemplate motherhood this year, I realize that most mothers, like most fathers and children, are probably going to be less than perfect in some area of their life. Perhaps we may say that the “Virtuous Woman” of Proverbs 31 is more the ideal rather than the average woman. There are some members of the feminine gender that probably should not be set forth as examples to follow. Jezebel comes to mind, as does Athaliah the daughter of King Omri, who killed her own grandchildren in order to keep the throne for herself! But there is one mother recorded in the Bible that in my opinion gets a bad rap every time she is mentioned. That woman is Mrs. Job. Her name is not revealed to us in Scripture, and so she does not have a personal identity, but is always joined to “Mr. Perfect”, that great, virtuous, patient, victorious, pius, famous, respected and lovable man of God, Mr. Job! 

I suppose the most frequently used quotation taken from the life of Job is the phrase "The patience of Job". We use it when we want to commend someone who does not collapse under a heavy burden, one who can take the pressure and continue to function. The second most common phrase is “Job’s Friends” which speaks of neighbors who come to comfort you when you are hurt but leave you worse than they found you. And the third most common phrase is probably "Job's wife". Just what does one mean when one refers to a woman as "Job's wife"? Well, since you asked, I'll tell you. It means that this woman who is supposed to be your helper, the one who is to give you support and comfort in trial, the one who of all people should understand what you are going through, becomes a part of the problem rather than part of the answer.  In a word, she becomes a nag. 

Believing as I do that none of my readers would want to be judged on the bases of a few choice words, spoken in a crisis, allow me to attempt a defense of Mrs. Job. I do not  pretend that she is completely innocent of the charges against her, but merely to declare that she deserves our admiration and sympathy whenever we rehearse the heart rending  story of this family that suffered compound tragedy so many centuries ago.

Based upon the record of the Holy Bible, we may calculate that Job lived at least several hundred years. It would seem reasonable to also assume that Mrs. Job lived to a ripe old age. During those several hundred years, being that she was female, we are justified in further assuming that she talked a whole lot. (That's lot, not Lot, like Job, not job).  Anyway, I will now present the entire sum and total of all of Mrs. Job's recorded conversation: "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." (Job 2:9) Let me be the first to acknowledge that if this represents Mrs. Job's whole life, we are not going to be able to "dress it up" too much. But I refuse to think that one quote is indicative of her entire life in her role as the wife of this great man, nor of her role as a mother.

Let us remember that although Job and his trials are the subject of the Book of Job, and that he alone was physically afflicted with sores and boils and tormented by his so called "friends", Mrs. Job also lost all that was dear to her, including the 10 children! This woman just lost ten children! Besides this, her very security was also threatened in the loss of all the goods and animals. She was not just some bystander or friend of the family.  She was the wife and Mother! 

Job was now going to go through a fiery trial under the hand of the cruel enemy of our soul, Satan. Since there is nothing recorded to the contrary, I must believe that once Mrs. Job was rebuked by her husband, she went about putting her life together again.  I can see her keeping busy doing what mothers and wives have always done, making sure that while father is busy debating with his company, they are well fed and otherwise made as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. We have every reason to believe that she hearkened to Job when he said; "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Job 2:10 She no doubt pondered that bit of wisdom just as you and I have pondered it over the years, not really sure of all that it means.

Now let us get on the fast track and skip through 42 chapters of the book until we arrive at the restoration to Job of all that he lost and more. We rejoice as this happy ending unfolds. But we are aware that the trial was severe, and the scars are deep. After all, who among us would consider it a flawless blessing to see our ten children replaced with others?  We are glad for ten more, but we did in fact lose the first ten with all the pain and agony associated with the death of our offspring. But even more to the point that I would make is the question; where do you suppose Job got these ten additional beautiful children? There she was, Mrs. Job, faithfully joining with her husband in the blessings and labor of restoring the heritage and posterity that would be his. For the next 140 years she bore, nursed, diapered and raised all these kids while making sure that Job lived in a happy environment that would suppress any tendency to cause flashbacks to the evil days of testing. Some commentators want to find a second wife in the picture. There is no evidence to support such a view. So I believe Mrs. Job deserves better than she has received at the hand of these same commentators who more than likely have never experienced anything near the disaster that struck the Job household. I am pleased to say "Happy Mother's Day Mrs. Job!"

And a Happy Mother's day to all of you who fill that difficult and sometimes thankless position. May God bless all of our Scullville Church family mothers in a special way this year.