Misfortune, pain, and humiliation are experiences associated with Job's life with an almost unrepeatable dramatic intensity. Also, "Job's patience," as James 5:11 states, has become a paradigm of the believer's strength in the face of life's tragedies. So much is said about Job's suffering and his patience that it's easy to forget the happy and triumphant ending of his story. In fact, Job's experiences would hardly serve as consolation if it weren't for the brilliant contrast of his end. This is the enduring message of the Bible: the misery and decay of this world have an astonishing end. God overwhelms with blessings and favors those who have endured, with faith, the tribulations and sufferings of this life. The poorest and most wretched of human beings can, in reality, be as rich as Job.
