Job’s Wife

[9] Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.[10] But he said unto her, 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? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.  Job 2:9-10

When you first hear “Job’s wife” what runs through your mind. My first thought, “she was not supportive but wanted him to just curse God and die.” Think for a minute with me, Job was not the only one who lost everything, so did his wife. The livestock that was killed was part of her livelihood too. The children that died were her children also. Her heart must have been breaking. I cannot image losing a child never mind ten, all at once. Not only did she lose everything with her husband, but it appeared that she was now losing him.

He was covered from head to toe with boils. Boils are extremely painful. He did not have one or two but so many that he was literally covered. He probably could not walk very well, because they were on the soles of his feet. His hands, most likely, were covered so he could not carry or hold anything without being in excruciating pain. He could not sit, he could not stand, and he could not lie down without pain wrenching his whole body. Thoughts from theologians believe it was anything from small pox, or leprosy to elephantiasis. The Hebrew meaning of boil is to burn; inflammation, that is, an ulcer: - boil, botch.

It appears that her faith was not as strong as Job’s, “do you still retain your integrity?” was the question asked. She was suffering too. She did not know how to reach out and comfort her husband. Maybe communication was not good between them. We need to remember this was a time when women kept silent. Eugenia Price says, “She saw her husband strictly from her own viewpoint, not at all from his.” We learn in Job 19 that his breath was offensive to her. It probably was because of the dreaded infection he had.

Only four verses mention Job’s wife. We do not know much, most is conjecture. We do know God gave Job double at the end than what he had in the beginning (Job 42:12).  God gave his wife a second chance with the birth of more children. Again there is much said about the end of Job’s life. Some believe it was a second wife, some believe it was his first wife. I side with it being the same wife. After looking through scripture I could not see the “second wife” theory.

Lessons I learned from Job’s wife:

Judgemental – do not be quick to judge, we need to walk in someone else’s shoes

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. ~ John 7:24

Offend – don’t be offensive, think before you speak, think before you act

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. ~ Psalm 49:3

Bitter – Bitterness festers inner “sores”

Let all bitterness… be put away from you… ~  Ephesians 4:31

Stern – Watch the tone of your voice

… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Ecclesiastes 3:7

Weary – when one is emotionally drained it brings everyone down

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. ~ II Thessalonians 3:13

Inadequate –  realize we are inadequate but Jesus is there to help us

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. ~ I Peter 5:7

Fatigue – when going through hard times find time to rest your tired body (physically and emotionally)

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: ...~ Psalm 37:7

Encourage– pray and ask God to help you be an encourager not a discourager

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Have a blessed day,
Donna