Name: The name of Job’s wife is not recorded in the Bible.
Her Character: Despite sometimes reacting badly to her family’s suffering, Job’s wife walked with him during a dark season.
Her Sorrow: She suffered the loss of her children and home, and she no doubt regretted her outburst.
Her Triumph: Despite her family’s losses and her less than stellar reaction, her family recovered all. She went on to have more children.
Key Scriptures: Job 2:9, 19:17, 31:10
Most of us are familiar with the book of Job, and we know a lot about his character from his reaction to the calamity that befell him. We know little about his wife, though the snapshot in history of her is not very flattering. Theologian and philosopher St. Augustine referred to her as the “adjutant to the devil.” Painter and poet William Blake referred to her as the “faithful attendant upon her husband’s misery.”
There is no doubt that she reacted badly. But let us take a look at when we are introduced to her. Her husband and family were under attack, and she was at her wits end. In a short period of time, her family had lost their herds, their ten children had died, and her husband was struck with a disease. She was in grief and shock and was no doubt wondering what on earth was going on. Where was God?
Was her statement of “curse God and die” the words of a callous, evil woman? Or was her statement of “curse God and die” the words of a woman who was distraught to the point where she saw no recovery from all the evil that had befallen their house. She was no doubt suffering along with her husband, and her faith was not as strong as his.
The next record of Job’s wife is also unflattering. She had turned away from her husband because his breath stunk from the disease he was afflicted with. Job had suffered already and the one person who should have been a comfort to him had turned away from him in disgust. She was part of his suffering instead of a comfort.
The lessons on Job normally focus on the suffering of Job and his faith in God. Then his wife’s reactions are used as an example of a wife and woman who was more of a burden and a curse. But there is hardly any acknowledgment that she lost 10 children all at once. Or that she was forced to leave her home. Or that she saw her husband’s health turn for the worst.
How would you react to all of those calamities at once? Truthfully how many of us have reacted strongly to a situation where we regretted our outburst or reaction. Luckily for us, we are not recorded in the Bible afterward. But like Job’s wife, an outburst or reaction gives us a snapshot of where we are. We can in that moment acknowledge and take stock in areas that we need to be strengthened and where we need to grow.
Her reactions were probably a wake up call for her to acknowledge where she was. At those moments, perhaps she realized that her faith was not as strong as it could have been.
Job went on to recover his losses and more. Although it is not said, we can make the conclusion that his wife recovered with him. She no doubt regretted her lack of faith as well as turning away from her husband. Her story serves as a reminder of how important it is to walk with loved ones during their valleys. Job was not supported by his friends, and he would have appreciated a praying, patient wife.
It is in our suffering and trials that we often find out where we really are. Even if we react badly, it is an opportunity to acknowledge where we are and take steps to do better in the future. Like Job’s family, God will restore us, and He will help us recover.
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