The Absence of Justice
An Analysis of the book of Job and the Problem of Evil
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
Tragedy is a common experience that causes many believers to feel betrayed by God. Job was declared righteous by God, yet suffered a series of horrible tragedies. Most people are ill prepared to deal with tragedy, resulting in bitterness that hinders their faith and growth. Like Job, they cannot understand how a benevolent God can allow evil things to happen to good people.
Job's friends come to comfort him in his distress, but instead, attack him viciously because their creed declares that he must have blasphemed and sinned to deserve this punishment. Job held the same beliefs, but denies any wrongdoing, and ultimately sues God for a reason for his suffering.
God then asks a series of questions that for Job are unanswerable. But modern science knows the answers to God's questions. This gives rise to a surprising eschatological interpretation.
This book develops a solution to the age-old problem of evil.
Paul E. Leightner is the product of a Bible-centered home. He attended Fort Wayne Bible College for a year and a half before entering Indiana Institute of Technology to earn a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering. In 1968, he founded Leightner Electronics, Inc., which produces cutting-edge products for NASA, military contractors, and the industrial market. He continues as CEO of the company. He currently serves on the Board of Church Ministries, International.
Paul Leightner has written an extraordinarily incisive, beautifully expressed analysis of the Book of Job. His book has the merit of covering every aspect of the book in great detail and presenting clear-cut decisions on the many problems that scholars have raised in interpreting it. The discussion of the Prologue and Epilogue as well as the numerous speeches is stimulating and very carefully done.
Rabbi Jack Bemporad, Director for the Center for Interreligious Understanding
Every pastor would thank God for a lay leader like Paul Leightner in their church. I know I certainly did. During the years I pastored the Alliance Bible Church of Dallas, Paul was a great model of godliness and faithfulness in our congregation. But there are elders who can model godliness and still not know the Scriptures. Paul was and is a devout student of the Bible, deeply concerned that God use him to explain and apply God's Word to others. That's how this book came about. So many Christians are baffled by the book of Job. Paul determined to pour hundreds of hours into understanding and sharing its message. You may not agree with every point - hardly any commentators on this book do. But you will agree that the author has captured the heart of Job, and more importantly, the heart of God in these pages.
Kenneth O. Gangel, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Dallas Seminary, Scholar-in-Residence, Toccoa Falls College
Paul Leightner is one of the most stimulating laymen I've had the privilege of pastoring. His active mind, keen insight and servant spirit make him a serious student of God's Word. He has poured his heart, mind and soul into this study of Job. The fruit is a valuable commentary on one of God's favorite and favored followers that will bless your heart, mind and soul.
Dr. Blair Ritchie, Senior Pastor, Collin Creek Community Church, Plano, Texas; District Superintendent, The Texas-Louisiana District of the Wesleyan Church
This is an excellent and refreshingly new look at the Book of Job. By carefully studying the characteristics of the players in this ancient biblical story, and by reasoning about the relationships between God, Satan, and the human race, the author illuminates fundamental clues to the age-old problem of evil - why a loving, all knowing, all powerful God would allow awful things to happen to his most righteous servants.
Ivor Page, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Eric Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas at Dallas