Stephen Kaufman, M.D., Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)
Job and the Theodicy Problem, part 5
In previous essays, I’ve discussed how Job was treated unfairly by God,
raising questions about God’s goodness. Despite Job’s experience and the
experiences of countless human and nonhumans who are victims of natural or
man-made disasters, I suggest that it is reasonable to believe that God
cares about Creation.
In the Book of Job, God rewards Job’s faithfulness by restoring him with
children and doubling his wealth. While few of us would be satisfied to have
the children we have raised with love and affection replaced with other
children, this makes sense in the context of that ancient culture, in which
children were seen primarily as possessions who would care for elderly
parents and carry on the family line. Therefore, it seems to me that the
story shows God’s siding with Job, though we contemporary readers might find
the compensation for Job’s losses to be insufficient.
I think there is a theme of concern for victims throughout the Bible, though
there are troubling exceptions. There are many teachings in the Hebrew
Scriptures about caring for those who are weak, orphaned, widowed, or
otherwise vulnerable, particularly in the writings of the later prophets.
Jesus’ ministry repeatedly calls for compassion rather than victimization,
exemplified by his declaration, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matthew
9:13, 12:7). However, the Hebrew Scriptures also describe divinely ordained
slaughter of the peoples of Canaan, and I know of no easy way to reconcile
these accounts of violence with the notion of a loving and merciful God.
On what grounds, then, can I say that God cares about Creation? I will offer more thoughts on this question next essay.
Go on to: Job and the
Theodicy Problem, part 6
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Reflection on the Lectionary, Table of Contents