Why Doesn’t God Let Job be Healthy in the Book of Job?

God is not directly responsible for the tragedies that befell Job, including his poor health; God did not cause Job to suffer or to be sick. It is true, though, that God did not prevent Job from suffering or becoming ill.

The Book of Job provides a behind-the-scenes view of the viciousness with which Satan pursues humans and wants to harm them (physically and spiritually). Before Satan tempted the first pair in the Garden of Eden to disobey God, there was no sickness or death. After Adam and Eve sinned, they were thrust from God’s Garden and the Tree of Life (Genesis 3). Though mankind today does not suffer the guilt of Adam and Eve’s sin (Ezekiel 18:20), all humanity suffers the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin (i.e., disease and death, 1 Corinthians 15:22). Disease, death and tragedy are in the world today because of man’s sin, which Satan encouraged. Satan is still described as man’s most fearsome enemy: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).