Job is one of the most quoted books of the Bible when Christians try to explain evil, sickness, and death.

"The Lord gives and takes away," they say, confidently quoting the Bible.

But they are profoundly mistaken.

Yes, Job did say it. But the story continues with God Himself rebuking Job for his words, correcting him, and Job repenting.

Scripture is divinely inspired, but not every statement within it reflects divine truth.

So why do people still quote Job's error as God’s ultimate truth?

The Sobering Reality

We have allowed Christian cliches to shape too much of our theology instead of Christ.

We have not been honest with Scripture. We have not allowed the Holy Spirit to open the Word to us. Instead, we have passively absorbed secondhand theology—often wrong theology.

Like Israel in the wilderness, we have settled for manna passed down from others instead of going directly to the Source. But secondhand bread is often stale—and sometimes poisonous.

So we hear a wrong belief about God, accept it, repeat it, and pass it on. And the cycle continues.

And here we are today—a multitude of believers believing, speaking, and living something false.

Not just false—dangerous.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)

It's tragic when a Christian thinks God creates, partners with, or allows evil—but even more tragic when they seek to make it their truth and then fiercely defend it.

You'll never see Jesus defend, befriend, or send evil—He came to end it. Yet some of us argue otherwise, as if we know God’s nature better than Jesus Himself.

It seems that, in trying to guard against error, we argue against the nature of God revealed in Jesus, insisting that He creates, partners with, or causes evil. But in rejecting Jesus' revelation of God—who never did those things—we're already in error.

The road to more of God's goodness is often blocked by religious beliefs we don't even know we have—many that are cleverly hidden in Christian language, making them harder to recognize.

Humility is what clears the way.

A Necessary Correction

We’re going to break this down, piece by piece.

By the end—if not sooner—you’ll see how good our good Father actually is.

Here’s how we’re going to tackle it:

1. Correcting “The Lord Gives and Takes Away”

2. Did God allow it? No

3. Job’s Three Friends: Well-Meaning, But Wrong

4. Elihu: The One Who Speaks Truth

5. If God Gives and Takes Away, Then...?

This might challenge everything you’ve believed about Job and the Good Father—but truth sets us free.

Job 1:21 – “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job believed God took everything from him—his children, wealth, and health. That’s why he never mentioned Satan.

Why?

Because he didn’t yet have an understanding of Satan like we do today.

At that time, Jewish thought ascribed all events—good and bad—directly to God. Satan had not yet been clearly revealed as the adversary (Zechariah 3:1, 1 Peter 5:8).

Job spoke from his limited understanding, but the actual narrative reveals the truth: Satan—not God—was the one who destroyed Job’s life. Yet Job, in his grief, wrongly attributed it to God.

But by the end of the book, after encountering the Lord, Job realizes his mistake and repents:

• “I spoke about things I did not understand.” (Job 42:3)

• “I take back everything I said and sit in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6)

If we continued to read the remainder of the story, instead of camping in the first chapter, we would have learned this.

May this be a wake up to integrity.

Job is not our model for the Christian life. He didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, the new covenant, the blood of Jesus, our authority, God’s promises, and Christ as his intercessor like we do.

Trying to compare a New Covenant Christian with Job is like reading a draft of a story before the final chapter—it’s incomplete without understanding the fullness of what Christ has accomplished.

If Job is your model for relating to God, there’s a better way—come to Jesus, the exact image of God.

The Truth About God's Nature

If God is the one who gives and takes away, then Jesus—who is the perfect image of the Father (Hebrews 1:3)—would have reflected that.

But Jesus never took away anyone’s children, livestock, or health. He restored them.

• He gave sight to the blind
• He restored health to the sick
• He raised the dead
• He multiplied provision

If Jesus didn’t do it, then neither does the Father.

God has always been a restorer:

• Joseph – What was stolen from him was restored beyond measure (Gen 41:41-43).

• David – After loss, God restored everything to him (1 Sam 30:18-19).

• Israel – Even after rebellion, God restored them time and again (Jer 30:17).

• Job – God doubled what was taken from him (Job 42:10).

God doesn’t steal life. God restores life. He is a Savior, not an abuser.

“The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

So instead of saying,“The Lord gives and takes away", we can say, “The enemy steals, but the Lord restores.”

If you believe God takes away, you’ll accept loss. If you believe God restores, you’ll expect redemption.

Which one will you choose?

One of the most dangerous misinterpretations of Job’s story is the idea that God "allowed" Satan to attack Job, as if He gave permission.

Here’s a simple analogy:

Imagine a teacher says to the class, “You can use anything in the room except the paint.”

If a student breaks the rule and spills paint everywhere, did the teacher allow it? No. The teacher set a clear boundary, but the student chose to ignore it – like Adam.

In the same way, God gaves us free will—because love isn't real without choice—along with clear boundaries for our good. Adam chose to ignore it, and so do we.

When harm happens, whether from our choices or the enemy, it’s not because God allowed and approved of it.

The word "allow" means "to permit, give permission."

God did not permit or give permission for Adam to eat off the tree. Adam made a free will choice.

The teacher did not permit or give permission for the student to touch the paint. The student made a free will choice.

God does not permit or give permission for the harm or devastation happening in life. It comes from a fallen world, sin or the enemy.

But let’s entertain the idea that God was giving satan permission to afflict Job...

One of the questions we should be asking then is: how much more will God give us, His children, permission to stop affliction?

Hint: Jesus already gave us permission – and a commission! – to stop affliction. (Matt 10:8)

So what happened with Job?

Let’s take a closer look.

Job 2:3 – “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’”

God isn’t offering Job up for destruction. He’s defending Job against Satan’s accusations.

In the previous chapter, Satan had been walking "to and fro over the earth", doing what he does, looking for whom he may accuse and attack (Job 1:7, 1 Pet 5:8).

So, did God “allow” it? No. God wasn’t actively permitting Satan's actions. He was actually holding up Job’s righteousness in the face of Satan’s accusations.

Satan Already Had Access

Job 1:12 – “Everything he [Job] has is in your [Satan] power...”

Many assume this means God handed Job over to Satan, but that’s not the case.

Later, in the New Testament, we learn that Satan is already "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4) and "the ruler of this age" (John 12:31).

Due to Adam’s fall, the world came under Satan’s domain. This explains why Satan was able to tempt Jesus by offering Him "the kingdoms of the world" (Matthew 4:8).

God didn’t give Job over to Satan—Satan already had access because of the fallen world.

But look at this: the verse continues and God still set limits on what Satan could do to Job.

Job 1:12 – “Everything he [Job] has is in your [Satan] power... only do not lay a hand on him.”

God wasn’t giving permission for Satan’s actions. Instead, He was setting a boundary on them.

God’s sovereignty was not permission—it was protection.

Why Didn't God Put A Boundary On It All?

If you're like me, you too might've asked, "Well, why didn't God stop all of it?"

Because if He did, He would be violating the very order He established—giving humans dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-28).

Adam’s sin handed dominion over to Satan (Genesis 3), making him "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4). Because of this, the world is under corruption, sin, and destruction (Romans 8:20-22).

God didn’t give Satan power—Adam did.

God operates through legal authority, and in a fallen world, people experience the consequences of that fall.

However, God did intervene—He set a limit. Satan was already operating in a fallen world, and God restricted him. That also shows that God is not partnering with Satan—He’s restraining him.

A judge in a courtroom can limit a criminal’s actions, but if the law gives that criminal certain freedoms, the judge cannot completely override them.

Likewise, God is just—He acts in accordance with His established order and words, and He cannot violate them.

This is why Jesus had to become a man. To legally restore what Adam surrendered, He had to redeem humanity as one of us. God couldn’t simply override the system He put in place, because true justice requires integrity. His justice, mercy, and wisdom are perfect.

That doesn't diminish His power. It actually highlights it.

Being able to do "anything" doesn't make you all powerful.

For example: Can God lie? No. Can God sin? No. Does that make Him less powerful? No.

True power isn’t in the ability to do anything—it's in the ability to always act in perfect alignment with His nature, and to never deviate from His goodness, justice, holiness, and wisdom.

That is power that cannot be shaken. And that's why He couldn't "just stop it all."

God Does Not Partner With Evil

Whatever we may think about God’s interaction with Satan, James makes it clear:

James 1:13 – “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.”

God does not partner with or use evil in any way.

To say “God allowed it” in the sense of approval would mean God was partnering with evil, which is impossible because is holy, just and good. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

This belief aligns more with Allah, the god of Islam, more than Abba, the God revealed in Jesus—read more here.

Instead, He exposed the enemy’s works, revealed Job’s faithfulness, and restored Job beyond measure. (Job 42:10-12)

God did not allow Satan to attack Job.

Satan was already operating in a fallen world.

God’s sovereignty was not permission—it was protection.

Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy—but Jesus comes to give life. (John 10:10)

So who are we going to blame for suffering—God or the thief?

If God partners with or allows evil, then Jesus worked against God His entire ministry.

If God creates, partners with, or allows evil to accomplish His will, does that mean there's evil in heaven? Because Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’"

If God is the source of both good and evil, how can He judge the wicked fairly?

A father who both wounds and heals is an abuser, not a savior.

The idea that God authors evil makes Satan redundant.

If God creates, partners with, or allows evil, why did Jesus come to destroy the works of the devil? (1 John 3:8)

If God creates, partners with, or allows evil, why does He say in Matthew 6:13, “Deliver us from evil”?

If God afflicts, why does He say He has plans to prosper us, not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11)?

If God creates, partners with, or allows evil, how can Jesus say, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23)?

If God afflicts us, why does 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 call Him the ‘God of all comfort’?

If God creates, partners with, or allows evil, why does Psalm 5:4 say He does not take pleasure in wickedness?

How can God partner with evil if He is the one who said, “Do not repay evil with evil” (Romans 12:17)?

If God allows evil, does that mean Satan is just doing God’s will? If so, then why does Jesus call Satan a liar and murderer from the beginning?