Job 12:6-10

Many evil people do not seem to suffer. Job thought that this was God’s plan. Job saw that birds and animals also suffer troubles without any reason. But this was not in fact God’s plan for the world.

When God made the world, it was perfect. Animals did not attack each other. God gave them the plants to be their food (Genesis 1:30). But men and women did not obey God. So, the whole world suffered (Genesis 3:17-19).

The Bible first refers to a death when an innocent animal had to die because of man’s evil deeds (Genesis 3:21). Everything in the world still suffers because of man’s evil deeds (Romans 8:22). The Bible says that, in the future, God will rule the world again. Then, the animals will not attack each other (Isaiah 11:6-9).

Job teaches his friends about God

v11 You taste food before you eat it. So, test my words as you listen. v12 You must be wise, because you are old! You must be intelligent, because of your age!

v13 God is wise and powerful. His knowledge is very great. v14 When God destroys something, nobody can repair it. When God punishes a man, nobody can rescue that man. v15 When God does not send rain, the land is dry. When God sends plentiful rain, there are floods. v16 God is strong and skilful. One man might lie to another man. But both men belong to God.

v17 (When God punishes rulers,) he leads them away (like prisoners):

• Their advisers become naked prisoners;

• their judges become fools;

• v18 kings lose their power. And a chain holds them as prisoners;

• v19 priests are naked;

• God overcomes powerful men;

• v20 God causes the kings’ wisest men to be silent;

• God causes the old men to give wrong advice;

• v21 God insults the rulers of the people;

• God makes strong men weak.

v22 God shows everyone the things that nobody knew. He causes light to shine in the darkest places. v23 God makes a nation great. And God destroys a nation. He makes nations larger. And he causes nations to divide.

v24 God causes the leaders of the people to be foolish. He sends them into the desert, away from the roads. v25 They are like men who wander in the darkness without light. Or, they wander like drunks.