In a Bible study this afternoon, I was looking at Job chapter 1 with some friends. I shared the opinion that Job could be a mythical figure; part of an extended parable rather than the account of actual events found in much of the rest of the Old Testament. There has certainly been artistry in how the story has been composed into a narrative. One YouTube video I saw recently was an interview with someone who has memorised the book in the original Hebrew. She observes that the main body of the book does seem to drag on so that we feel a longing for God to return to the story, like a dry and weary land thirsting for water. Further to the study, I’ve revised my opinion of Job to “actual historical figure” although the story remains detached from the main flow of Old Testament narrative. As well as the mention I had turned up in James 5:11, I also found Job mentioned in Ezekiel 14 (vv. 14, 20) alongside Noah.

As a side note, Ezekiel also mentions “Daniel” but, as the NIV footnote suggests, this may not be the Daniel of the Bible (alive at the time of Ezekiel) but a figure known from ancient non-Biblical writings.

In the uncertainties, we need to keep in mind what is sure, just like a cyclist needs to keep their eye on where they want to ride and not on all the hazards they want to avoid. The book of Job tells us that God is sovereign. Ezekiel reminds us that God is holy. The good news, revealed in the gospels and the canonical story and teachings of the early church, is that, through our Lord Jesus Christ, God has made a way for us to be reconciled to him.