Back-story

Job, by KulhanekLast weekend we participated in a Bible study on the first three chapters of the book of Job, in the old testament. Some people think that the story of Job really happened, just as it's written (as a child and young adult, I never questioned that). Some think it's more of a rich parable or lesson, written to tell us about the nature of God, and the nature of humans.

One of the devices in the story of Job is that it contains a back-story. Back-story is the history behind the main story being told. It often explains the motives of the main characters, so that if you knew it, you'd say "Ohhhh, so that's why!" But part of the power of some kinds of storytelling is in not revealing the "why" until later.

In the case of Job, God is holding court in heaven, and Satan comes to visit. It's actually God who brings Satan's attention to Job, asking "Have you noticed my servant, Job?" An interaction follows in which Satan gets permission to rain tragedy and sorrow on Job's life, with God wagering on his servant's loyalty even when he's lost everything except his own life.

What if we had walked into the story not knowing the back-story? You'd have lost the whole theme of the story. You'd have just read about a man who suffered, whose friends philosophized about his suffering, and whose wife was so grieved that she burst out with, "Why don't you just curse God, and die!" Then you would have seen him inexplicably recover, have ten more children, and get rich again. And you would have said, "Huh?"

See, it's the back-story that brings meaning to the whole narrative. The back-story gives at least some response to the question, "Why?"

That made me stop and wonder: I'm in the midst of this story that I don't understand--a journey that doesn't make sense. Is there a theme or goal to my life? The older I get, the less the pieces all fit together.

I'm not a person who likes "scatter." I walk with oh-so-many "why's" about everything. I could get all existentialist and say, "Well, it just happens. I exist. Inexplicable things happen in the lives of people who just are."

But the story of Job causes me to stop and think that there might be a back-story that I can't see. I'd be curious to know what it is.