Have you ever said something you really wish you wouldn’t have? Maybe in a moment of frustration or despair your tongue lost control and spewed words into the air like ash from a recently erupted Mt. Vesuvius. Has there been a time in your life that you said something you truly didn’t mean?
I believe this is exactly how Job’s wife felt. It’s easy to read the account of Job and think that Satan preserved her life to be an annoyance to Job. Job 2:9 – Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. There are 4 Proverbs devoted to warning about a contentious and quarrelsome wife. But I don’t think Job needed this warning. I don’t think a contentious and quarrelsome wife is truly the picture of Job’s wife.
Considering all Job went through and then realizing his wife went through most of all that too, any of us in her circumstances would be equally upset. She lost her children, wealth, status, and with Job covered in boils, it appeared that she would also be losing her protection and security at any moment. Her life was falling apart as quickly as Job’s. So, she says something stupid. But for almost 40 chapters Job also says some really dumb stuff. In fact, God reprimands Job several times. God also reprimands Job’s friends, but not once does God reprimand Job’s wife.
It seems Job’s wife was a pretty great wife in all actuality. Job 2:10 But [Job] said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. Job corrects his wife and then we hear nothing from her until the end of the book. That doesn’t seem like a contentious wife to me. One who heeds the voice of her husband and goes about her way leaving him alone.
Job’s wife is picked up again in chapter 42. Though she is not referenced by name we see proof of her existence. Job 42:12, 13-15 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning, He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job.
To state the obvious, Job didn’t have these children on his own. His wife was very much involved. It was through her his latter end was blessed. The bible says that no women were found so fair. Can you imagine how beautiful Job’s wife must have been to produce three of the fairest daughters in all the land. I also believe, unlike their first set of children, these were fair in manner of their personalities too. Maybe Job’s wife learned some things through her trial. Maybe she raised more righteous children the second time around. There’s no true biblical proof for that, though I think their names lead way to such an idea. The names of Job’s daughters mean: Kenzia – Cassia, Kerenhappuch – horn of cosmetic, and Jemima – affectionate/ dove. Cassia is a sweet fragrance. It is of the cinnamon family. Horn of cosmetic would be literally translation beauty holder. A horn was like a case or flask that things were kept in and cosmetic is exactly what it seems; cosmetics: eye shadow, blush, mascara, etc. Her beauty was unmatched. Doves are small, delicate, nurturing birds and I think that’s exactly what kind of woman Jemima was.
Even though Job’s wife said something really dumb, God forgave her. He could have easily replaced Job’s wife with another woman, but He is a forgiving, long suffering, loving God. He’s not untouched with our infirmities. It’s encouraging to know that when we mess us, and we will mess up, no matter how hard we try, that God can still do something better! Although God still done something amazing through Job’s wife, her story is a warning for us.
Think of every sermon or devotion you have heard about Job’s wife. Very few paint her in a flattering light. Unfortunately she is not remembered for obeying her husband when he told her to be quiet or birthing the most beautiful girls. Instead she has been remembered through all of history for the one dumb thing she said. We really do have to be careful with every single word we say. No one will remember the thousands of good things we do, but they will always remember the one bad thing we said.