The Book of Job has always made the most sense to me not as a literal history of a man, but as a parable, used just as Christ later would, to teach that misfortune does not stem from a person's wickedness. When we ask God, "Why me?" during our troubles, this parable teaches us that God is making more from our lives. Even if it is our lot to perish to injustice as the martyrs and saints, in doing so with our faith unbroken we further God's kingdom.
I do not believe we should interpret this book literally; God and Satan behave in a manner very inconsistant with how they are portrayed everywhere else in the Bible. Rather I am quite convinced this is a parable. It lays out an arguement, points and counterpoints and refutations, and concludes in the last chapter. Besides, 1:8 states Job was a perfect man, yet only Christ was perfect. Job is a hypothetical example to build the premise of this arguement. I am quite certain he never existed, but the teaching in this book is still very real and divinely granted.
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I do not believe we should interpret this book literally; God and Satan behave in a manner very inconsistant with how they are portrayed everywhere else in the Bible. Rather I am quite convinced this is a parable. It lays out an arguement, points and counterpoints and refutations, and concludes in the last chapter. Besides, 1:8 states Job was a perfect man, yet only Christ was perfect. Job is a hypothetical example to build the premise of this arguement. I am quite certain he never existed, but the teaching in this book is still very real and divinely granted.
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