Job was in a terrible situation. He lost his children, his possessions, and his health. His wife urged him to just end it all by cursing God and dying. His friends all gathered together, not to comfort Job, but to straighten him out. They assumed that Job's trouble was the result of some hidden sin for which God was punishing him. One of Job's friends, Zophar, to support this argument, stated that God always punishes the wicked. The implication was that Job's suffering was a result of such punishment. (ch 20) Job countered his argument by demonstrating that sometimes the wicked do prosper in this life. (ch 21) This raises the age-old question, "Why do the wicked prosper?" Why does God seem to let some people get away with terrible sins? Job answered that question. The wicked will indeed be punished, but perhaps not in this life. They will be punished, if not in this life, in the next, on judgement day. The fact is, we cannot assume that because someone is having trouble God is punishing them, nor that because someone prospers that he is right with God. Instead, we must search our own hearts to see if we are right with God, and if not repent and seek His forgiveness. We must all stand before God's judgement seat one day. Only those whose sins are forgiven, who trust in Jesus' atoning death on the cross and resurrection from the dead will escape God's wrath. Also, we must realize that sometimes adversity comes our way to strengthen our faith and cause us to seek God. Circumstances are not always a result of our standing before God. Sometimes they are catalysts designed to strengthen our standing before God.
