Today, we go back in time. Job lived around the time of Abraham, so this all happens before Israel was a nation and no part of the Bible has yet been written. The story begins as a conflict between God and Satan. Satan believes Job is obedient to God only because God protects him while God thinks Job would be righteous regardless. Job is put to the test by having everything taken away from him and being made to suffer in ways that are hopefully beyond anything you have experienced.
It all feels rather cruel on God’s part to allow a good man to suffer. Job experiences all this without knowing why. However, for thousands of years, Job’s story has been used to encourage those who are suffering. Our suffering always has a purpose. It may not have thousands of years’ worth of benefits, but it may serve to impact our own character, or our response could be an encouragement to others.