Job and his friends clearly believed in the omnipotence and goodness of God. They also believed that God was just. The Bible generally teaches that a person will reap what they sow in this lifetime. This is clear in the covenant between God and Israel and the Proverbs--to name just two examples. Job’s comforters, armed with this theology, adamantly accused him of secret sin. (Note: The events in Job pre-date Israel)
However, Job’s case was unique. God himself declared Job blameless and upright. Even by New Testament standards Job shined; he loved God and cared for his fellow man (the two greatest commandments per Jesus). Moreover, human experience shows that rewards and punishments do not seem to be distributed fairly on Earth. Job dared to ask how could God be seen as correct in this matter.
Modern Christian thought does not enter into the arguments or the answers from God in the Book of Job. The belief that all members of the human race are sinful and therefore are worthy of the worst punishment is not entertained. The idea that God will set all things right at the end of time and transform the bad into good for his people is not presented either. Neither is the view that the righteous can suffer for the unrighteous in order to show love, help them see God’s ways or hear his message. The truth that suffering can be redemptive, as seen in the case of Jesus, is not addressed either.
God never answers Job as to why he is innocently suffering. God’s monologue is a call to faith in God’s wisdom and power. At the end of the interaction we see Job more content. He has learned to trust God even more although the reason for his situation is never provided. Only with the additional biblical revelation now available can we (centuries later!) more maturely speculate on God’s purposes for Job.
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