The book of Job is one of the most prolific and unique books of the bible. It is a mix of narrative and poetry, and is distinctive in the fact that it deals with the individual's (Job's) relationship to God, as oppose to that of the group's. It is these differences along with the somewhat radical picture of God that is presented which makes Job quite different than the rest of the bible, and often so interesting. One of the fundamental themes that arises in Job is the different imago-deis, or images of the Godhead that are presented throughout the book. Job is subjected to terrible trials of faith that force him to question the traditional image of God that had been so familiar to his culture and to himself. It is through these trials and this journey that Job is eventually able to break through to a new imago dei.When the book of Job begins, Job couldn't ask for anything more, or be any happier. He was living a pious life with a generous collection of material possessions and a large loving family. God saw Job as an ideal servant. It was only when Satan hypothesized to God that the sole reason why Job was so obedient to God was because he was living so well that He allowed Satan to test this theory; under the condition that he didn't kill Job. Satan destroyed all that Job owned, and even killed his sons and daughters. Job was quite distraught over this, but didn't curse God as Satan had predicted. Satan then said that if Job's personal health were put at risk, then Job would certainly blaspheme against God. God again conceded to a test, making the same condition of not killing Job. Satan then covered Job's body with sores and blisters. Job was overwhelmed by these tests; he couldn't believe that God would allow so much to happen to him, when he had been such a good servant to God in the past. Three of Job's friends had heard about the hardships that he was going through, and so they came to visit him. It was after s...
