In answer to this question, last week I invited Rob Sutherland to explain his view. I commend what he wrote for your reflection. I’ve also given the question some thought.
In addition to the issue of self-motivated worship (including material blessings) vs. selfless worship for the sake of the Other, I look at the issue as one of faith vs. sight. Job’s testing without benefit of knowing the conversation in heaven reflects the Lord’s need for his servants to walk by faith. Had Job known, he would then simply walk by sight. That would have been no test at all.
Even if the Lord revealed the nature of the test at the end, meeting the Lord as the response to Job’s lawsuit (though not at the time or in the manner he expected) would not have been enough. The Lord Himself would not have been enough. Instead, Job would have known.
Like Job, when we’re overwhelmed with suffering, we long to know the reason. Instead, we go on, serve the Lord faithfully, and love Him for Himself (so Sutherland). In the process, we also learn to live with doubt, ambiguity, and uncertainty. One person responded to this question by recalling Jesus’ command to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” That’s our responsibility.
Like Job, we walk by faith, not by sight.
