“My Favorite Part of the Bible…Pt. 1“

Last year, I was sittin’ next to Gabby Kirton, waitin’ for our Christmas plays to begin, and she asked me, “What’s your favorite scripture?” Then the program began, and she forgot about my answer, which was just as well, because, come January, I was still thinkin’ about Gabby’s question. 

It’s difficult (for me, at least) to “favorite” one part of the Bible. I just get excited about openin’ the Bible, period. I love the Psalms. They’re so beautiful and diverse, so many people, talking to and about God and life. I love the angry, weeping prophets. The book of Numbers, which always makes me drowsy, also reminds me that God cares about the details. I love the logical rhetoric of Paul’s letters and the poetry of John’s letters. Of course, I love the stories about Jesus. 

But recently, I began re-reading the book of Job, and I realized how much I love that book. But not for the reasons you might think. When church people talk about “the patience of Job,” I wonder if they’ve even read that book! It’s really about Job losing his patience — with his wife, with his friends, even with God. 

Y’all know the story. The sons of God meet, and, according to Job 1:6, satan, for some reason, is in the midst. (Stop. Think about that.) And God strikes up a conversation with him, brings his attention to Job (church people say), to “brag about” him. And, as a result, Job loses his possessions, his children, and his health. He also loses the compassion of his wife, who wants him to just die (Job 2: 9-10). Job tells Mrs. Job that she doesn’t even sound like herself.  

No patience here. 

You remember. Job says, “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1: 20-21). Then his friends show up to silently commiserate with him. And then, into the silence, Job finally says, “I wish I was dead. No. I wish I’d never been born” (Job 3: 1ff)!  

No patience here! 

But it gets better (for a given definition of better). Job’s friends “comfort” him. “You know, Job … if you hadn’t been such a low, down, dirty, SECRET sinner, none of this would have happened to you. Confess! Maybe God will take pity on you,” they say (Job 8: 1-5).  

I love Job’s responses to his friends; what he says always makes me laugh out loud. The shade! “No doubt you are the people. Wisdom will die with you. (Job 12: 2) Miserable comforters are you all” (Job 16: 2).  

There is no patience here!