The story of Job in the Bible provides insight into why Job’s wife told him to “curse God and die” during his immense suffering. To understand her words, we must first consider the context.
Job was a righteous man who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). He had a large family, many possessions, and was “the greatest man among all the people of the East” (Job 1:3). However, God allowed Satan to test Job’s integrity by stripping away all he had – his children, servants, flocks, and health. In the midst of horrific loss and pain, Job remained faithful to God saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
After Job had suffered intensely, his wife spoke the infamous words recorded in Job 2:9 – “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” To curse God was an act of defiance against Him. Some key factors likely influenced her statement:
- She had also lost her children and possessions. Grief may have embittered her.
- Seeing Job’s torment day and night surely vexed and exhausted her too.
- Her words imply she believed that if Job cursed God, he would be judged and his suffering ended through death.
- She may have felt that clinging to integrity was pointless since it did not stop Job’s agony.
- Her advice may have been sinfully-motivated, or she may have cared for Job and wanted his pain to end.
Though this advice was wrong, Job did not condemn his wife but continued trusting God (Job 2:10). Her words came during Job’s lowest point of despair and greatest vulnerability. At times, we too may receive misguided counsel from distraught loved ones when we suffer. Yet we should not lose faith in God, but remember His sovereignty and goodness.
1. The Bible condemns cursing or reviling God
The Bible makes clear that cursing or reviling God is a grievous sin:
- “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.” (Exodus 22:28)
- “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” (Proverbs 30:17)
- “He who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:16)
Therefore, Job’s wife’s advice to Job to “curse God and die” was extremely misguided from a biblical perspective. Cursing God would have only compounded Job’s suffering by making him guilty of a heinous sin before God.
2. Job’s steadfast faithfulness honored God
Job refused to give in to his wife’s exhortation because He recognized that cursing God would be sinful and dishonoring to God. Job remained faithful through his trial, declaring, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10).
In the midst of agony, Job worshipped God, demonstrating steadfast trust in God’s sovereignty and divine purposes (Job 1:20-22). Job’s steadfast faithfulness honored God greatly before Satan and all the heavenly beings watching the drama unfold. Job clung to integrity and the fear of the Lord even when pressured severely to deny God.
3. Cursing God resembles the sinful advice of Job’s friends
Job’s wife suggested he take matters into his own hands by cursing God to end his life. This resembled the bad advice from Job’s friends who thought Job should admit to hidden sin to end his suffering (Job 4:7-8, 8:3-6). Yet Job knew cursing God or confessing fabricated sin would be sinful and wrong. Just as Job refused the poor advice of his friends, he likewise rejected his wife’s exhortation because that also would have been displeasing to God.
4. Job’s wife acted in ignorance without knowledge of heavenly events
Job’s wife did not have the heavenly perspective that the book of Job provides of the conversation between God and Satan (Job 1-2). She could only view the earthly loss and pain. Without full understanding, she drew wrong conclusions about Job’s suffering and how he should respond.
Often we also lack perspective about difficulties allowed in our lives. We should avoid hasty conclusions but continue trusting God’s purposes are good even when we don’t understand why trials come. Job did this well. His patient endurance through immense loss because of his faith in God is commended in James 5:11.
5. Even in distress, we must guard against speaking wrongly of God
When undergoing hardship, suffering saints must guard their lips and not sinfully accuse or speak against God (Psalm 77:3). Though desperate under pressure and pain, Job did not embrace her wrong counsel because he honored God with his speech and knew reviling God would be sinful.
We too must control our tongue when undergoing distress and not raise our voice against God in anger (Lamentations 3:39-41). Speaking rightly about God even when we don’t understand His ways demonstrates genuine faith.
6. Not all advice from friends and loved ones should be followed
Job’s wife reminded him of their friendship, but wrong advice, even from those close to us, should be rejected. She understandably felt overwhelmed with pain watching Job suffer and longed for his agony to end. Yet her advice stemmed from a lack of trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty.
As believers, we must filter counsel and exhortations through the lens of Scripture even if it comes from family or friends. Though painful, Job refused to heed his wife’s wrong advice because it contradicted godly wisdom and living by faith in God.
7. Marriage must be grounded in a common faith and reverence for God
Job and his wife responded very differently to their shared tragedy. In times of hardship, foundational differences are revealed. When facing crushing difficulties, the beliefs and values that ground a marriage will be evidenced by whether the couple turns together towards God or apart from Him.
Job shared his anguish but remained steadfast in faith. Unfortunately, his wife could not grasp Job’s perspective grounded in trusting God’s goodness and purposes. Their marriage perhaps lacked deep spiritual intimacy in Christ. Unity during suffering flows from a shared reverence for God.
8. Believers must guard their hearts when experiencing grief, pain, and loss
Intense grief, exhaustion, and emotional pain can cloud judgment and prompt reactions that dishonor God. Job’s wife probably felt overwhelmed witnessing Job’s suffering firsthand day and night. This reality highlights that believers must guard against bitterness and despair that can surface during tragedy.
By God’s grace, Job did not sink into despair but continued pursuing God despite the depths of his pain. God sometimes uses suffering to refine our faith and remove impurities, as with Job. We should humbly ask God to strengthen our faith if trials threaten to weaken our spiritual foundations.
9. Prayer is vital when facing suffering and loss
We are not told if Job’s wife prayed for strength and guidance during their loss. Perhaps if she had prayed through her grief and confusion, she may not have advised Job to curse God. We too can neglect prayer when hardship comes rather than running to God for help in our time of need.
Job likely poured out his anguish to God in prayer which helped anchor his faith during the storm. As believers we must develop a first instinct to pray rather than self-counsel during trials. Prayer helps us process suffering through God’s lens rather than our distorted human perspective.
In conclusion, Job’s wife’s exhortation to “curse God and die” arose from blinded grief and limited earthly understanding. Rather than embrace her misguided advice, Job clung to faith in God’s unseen purposes and demonstrated perseverance under extreme suffering. Job honored God by refusing to curse Him even amidst intense agony. When we face pain, we must guard our hearts, speak rightly of God, reject unwise counsel, and pray for endurance and wisdom to uphold our integrity like Job.