Welcome to NachDaily. Today we’re starting the introduction to Iyov [Job].

Iyov deals with the most difficult and profound of questions: Is life fair? The question of “Tzaddik v’ra lo v’Rasha v’tov lo, why do bad things happen to good people and vice versa?” Is really just the tip of the iceberg.

Rav Shwab explains in his introduction to Iyov, that if good people were always punished in this world and Reshaim always succeeded, Divine providence, reward and punishment, would be apparent. The righteous would suffer and be rewarded in the next world while evildoers would receive their reward in this world.

Even at a superficial glance, however, anyone can see that this is not the case. We see some Tzaddikim enjoying wealth, health and prosperity in this world, and some Reshaim suffering.

This contradiction lies at the heart of human pain. We cannot understand why we suffer while others succeed. The appearance of randomness and lack of Divine providence in the world and our lives puzzles us.

Welcome to the world of Iyov, who was a great Tzaddik. The Gemarah in Baba Basra 14B explains that in many regards he was greater than Avraham Avinu.

The Sifrei in Parshas V’eschanon 27 explains that although Iyov did not consider himself an “eved, servant” of God, Hashem considered him as such. Chazal say, based on verses in Yechezkel, that Iyov was among the 3 greatest Tzaddikim of all time along with Noach and Daniel. Iyov was an archetype of righteousness.

Noach, Daniel, and Iyov had all experienced cycles of rebirth, destruction, and rebirth in their lives. Noach saw the destruction of the world with the flood and its regeneration after the flood. Daniel experienced the Kedusha of the first Beis Hamikdash and was exiled to Bavel, Babylonia, with its destruction. He lived to see the Jewish people return to Eretz Yisrael with the building of the second Beis Hamikdash.

Iyov had wealth, health, honor and family. He was left with nothing but abject poverty, pain and suffering, the loss of children, and friends who labeled him a sinner. Not only did he survive, but God Himself told Iyov that he was a Tzaddik and his friends were wrong.

We will learn how the Satan persecuted Iyov. The Satan rationalized that of course Hashem loved Iyov. With all the emotional and physical amenities in the world, who wouldn’t serve God? It is easy to serve Him with no difficulties or challenges in life.

Hashem gave the Satan permission to test and inflict suffering and anguish upon Iyov, the likes of which no man had ever experienced. Iyov’s children perished, his sheep died, and his wealth was taken from him. Despite going from riches to rags overnight, Iyov remained strong in his faith and Emunah. His spirits were not yet broken.

The Satan then unleashed excruciating physical pain on Iyov. Throughout this sefer we see how Iyov grappled to make sense of his suffering and God’s ways. Amazingly, his most difficult struggle was not his horrific pain, but with his faith in God.

Is God good? Does He taunt His creatures? Does God involve Himself in this world, or is He beyond this world, leaving mankind to rot?

Iyov’s struggles were real, and certainly relevant to us as our generation suffers greatly. Although thank God most of us have physical comfort and safety, we suffer from anxiety, depression, guilt, excessive fear, broken relationships, divorces, and a host of other mental and emotional maladies. Just trying to make it through a regular day can be fraught with obstacles and emotional upsets for many people.

We must engage in the struggle, to stay in the conversation, attempting to clarify our Emunah, to have simple faith in the goodness of God and His world.

Iyov’s name comes from the word Oyev, enemy, because he felt that he had become God’s enemy.

There are many different opinions about who Iyov was and when he lived.

B’reishis Rabba 57 brings a conglomeration of opinions:

*Iyov lived in the time of Avarham, because when speaking about Avaraham we read that Iyov lived in the land of Utz.

*Iyov lived in the times of Shoftim.

*Iyov was born when Yisrael went down to Mitzrayim and lived to see the exodus.

*He lived in the times of the Queen of Sheba.

*He was among the people who entered Eretz Yisrael and learned in a Yeshiva in Tevaria.

* Iyov lived in the time of Yaakov Avinu. He married Yaakov’s daughter Dina. [Avos d’Rebbe Nosson]

* Iyov was the son of Utz, Nachor’s eldest child.

* Iyov was a non-Jew. [Seder Hadoros]

According to the Gemarah in Baba Basra 15b, Iyov lived during the times of Mitrzayim. He was one of the 3 advisers Paroh had asked about throwing the children into the river. Bilaam, who advised to kill the babies, was killed. Yisro, who ran away, merited having descendants who were Tzaddikim.

Lastly we have the Gemarah in Baba Basra 14b, which maintains that Iyov was actually Moshe Rabbenu. It should be noted that most of the Meforshim seem to agree with this although the same Gemarah says that the story of Iyov is actually a Moshal.

Perhaps you can say b’derech drush that the reason there are so many opinions as to when Iyov lived, or whether he even existed, is because his suffering and faith apply to all people in every generation. The story of Iyov is universal.

Amazingly, the Pessiksa Rabba 47b relates that after everything Iyov went through, he still harbored a hint of resentment towards God. Had he not, we would say Elokei Avraham, Elokei Yitzchak, ElokeiYaakov, and Elokei Iyov!

We need to understand, of course, that this was all on Iyov’s amazingly exalted level. Even if we fail, we can still be considered Tzaddikim. While we find Iyov directly questioning God’s ways, it’s up to us to engage in the question while having the simple Emunah that everything God does is for the good.

I’m very excited about learning Iyov with you all. Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily when we’ll begin the first perek.

Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.