The Patience of Job?

When we hear talk of Job, the word that is attached to him is patience. His patience has become proverbial, how this man of impeccable integrity kept his faith in the midst of the most devastating storm imaginable. So tradition tells us that we should celebrate the patience of Job.

Where does that idea come from? I read the book and I'm not sure that what I see in Job is patience! In my home, when my boys are having a problem, any problem, they think they have to talk about it immediately. Without regard to what anyone else is doing or talking about, they interrupt, spewing forth an impassioned plea for relief. Sometimes their issue warrants attention, and sometimes we ask them to wait just a minute. Generally, one of two things happen: They either completely ignore our instruction and tell us the same story LOUDER or they wait about 15 seconds and ask if a minute is up. To this I almost always impatiently respond: Be patient!

The sign of their impatience is the interruption, the need to talk about it immediately. The fact that we make them wait doesn't indicate that they are patient, it indicates that we are in control and they have to wait whether they like it or not.

Job had to wait too. But that doesn't mean he was patient. God was in control. He was going to address Job when He was ready to address him. But any cursory reading of Job's monologues would lead one to conclude that Job was anxious for God's response.

Where does this concept of Job's patience originate? The first and only time that this word is specifically linked to Job in scripture is in James 5:11 (KJV); "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." See, even James had heard of the patience of Job.

But upon further inspection, the original Greek word that is translated patience is best translated as endurance or perseverance. Point of fact, the word translated "endure" in the first part of the verse is the verb form of the same word that is translated "patience" in the second part.

You may think that I'm splitting hairs here, but to me endurance or perseverance is the way to go because endurance is heroic.

• Patience tolerates setbacks with indifference, endurance seeks to redeem them.
• Patience says, "Wake me up when it is over." Perseverance says, "I won't quit no matter what happens!"
• Patience sits back and waits quietly (without interruption) for the storm to pass while endurance sits up and engages the storm.
• Patience believes it will soon be over while endurance believes we will soon be better.

I think the NIV got it right when they chose to interpret James' words this way: "As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

The heroic example of Job shines through his endurance. He persevered through the unthinkable with his faith intact. He may have begged for his day in court so he could state his case to God, but it was with full faith that he was bringing his case to the one true God. He never wavered on his faith, understanding that if he persevered, he would come out a better man in the end. "When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)

A. W. Tozer put it this way in Roots of Righteousness, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He’s hurt him deeply.” Do you believe that?

James does. Using the same Greek word for perseverance, James writes this about our suffering: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4