Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? These two questions have bewildered mankind throughout the centuries. Philosophers, theologians, and religious leaders have developed many hypotheses. Some of these hypotheses support each other while others conflict. It is for this reason that we must conclude that there is not one answer, but rather a number of reasons. One source of theory is The Bible. There are many stories in the Bible that try to rationalize human suffering, but the most fascinating story is the Book of Job. It was written around sixth century B.C.E. and still has relevance today because the majority of society attempts to find reasoning for seemingly unreasonable instances of human suffering. The Book Of Job questions the challenges that people face by telling the story of a righteous and respectful man named Job. He suffers both emotional and physical suffering for no apparent reasons. He has three friends that come to him and try to help him understand the reasons for his sufferings. Only God can offer the answers to Job's questioning of his losses and physical pains.
Humans have always known suffering and anguish, and humans have always questioned suffering and anguish. The common mentality is that if a person lives a morally correct life, bad things will not happen to them. Unfortunately that has never been a correct assumption. In The Book of Job, Job himself is "perfect and upright" but still suffers immeasurable losses and great physical pain. Job was stricken with misfortune. All of his children died from one tragedy or another, and all of his animals that made his livelihood were stolen or killed. Then Job's health was destroyed when God covers his skin in painful boils from head to toe. Throughout all of this suffering Job cannot understand what he did to deserve such terrible circumstances when he lead a good life and always worshipped God.
