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Over the past few weeks, we have looked closer at the tribulation of Job in chapters 6 and 7 of the Behind The Scenes of iBIBLE series. This week is the conclusion to this series. In review, Job's three friends tried to convince Job that he had sinned, and that his sin had resulted in his suffering. They contended that God would never let a righteous man suffer. Elihu comes on the scene and doesn't agree with Job's three friends, stating that Job's failure came when he attributed righteousness to himself, rather than to God, his Creator. It is then that God speaks and challenges Job, who had dared to question God. Job responds to the Lord in repentance.

In the past weeks, we looked at the conversation between Job and his friends. So many questions, hypotheses, and thoughts are given about why God allowed Job to suffer in this way. In the end, Job actually states that he wants the Almighty to answer him!

Over the past few weeks, we have presented a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and animation of Job in iBIBLE. This week we will look at Elihu. We do not know very much about Elihu, but we do know that he is younger than the others, and that he is the son of Barachel the Buzite of the family of Ram. We do not know when he arrived to speak to Job, or when he departed, and interestingly, there is no record of him being rebuked by God as Job's other three friends were. Naturally, this brings about many questions: was Elihu a fourth friend of Job? Was he a type of Christ? Was he God's messenger? Or, was he someone else altogether? The best part of producing the Biblical narrative is that we don't necessarily have to answer these questions. We reserve these difficult questions and answers for pastors, teachers, and theologians. Our job in producing iBIBLE is to present the narrative: the events that happened as revealed in Scripture.

Job has suffered immensely, and his friends have gathered to support him. We looked first at his friend, Eliphaz who believed that God was punishing Job for his sins. Let's take a look at Job's friends Bildad and Zophar as they also try to understand what happened to Job and argue that suffering is punishment for sin and prosperity is reward for righteousness.

Job's friends have seen him suffer horribly, and they gather to try to comfort him. From chapters 4 to 31, Job conversed with his friends about the meaning of suffering. Ultimately the theories of his friends were unsatisfactory and aligned with some of the same theories people often have today.

As the book of Job opens, we see a "blameless and upright man, one who feared God, and turned away from evil." If suffering is intended as a punishment for evil, Job would not be a recipient. The first chapter of Job is not even finished when Job's calamity begins. Within the realm of a single day, all Job had was in ruins and his world thrown upside down. His ten children and most of his servants were dead. His 11,000 head of livestock, gone. Yet, in all of this, Job's integrity did not fail him.

Setting the stage for the story of Job that is about to unfold, we see a scene that challenges our understanding: an exchange between God and Satan; with the fate of a man in the balance. The Scripture sets the stage: the angels present themselves before the Lord. One thing is immediately clear. God is taking an active and involved role in specific situations on earth.

As the story of Job unfolds, we clearly see a man that suffered at the hands of Satan. The extent of his affliction includes losing his wealth, his children, his reputation, and even his health. But what of Job's wife? Some who recall the story have assumed she dies along with their children, or that she was angry and defiant to God.

As the story comes to life in iBIBLE chapter 9, we see a compelling scene playout: a battle between many different armies in a rich valley surrounded by hills ... with tar/bitumen pits.

When reading the genealogy of Jesus, truth be told, many of us see a puzzling list. It's easy to skim over it searching for the real story of Jesus' grandness to begin. We know the names were people, but perhaps we don't know about their lives or even struggle to pronounce their names. The story of Jesus though doesn't begin with the nativity. It begins in Genesis - and understanding the grandeur, grace, and greatness of our God comes in knowing the story that has unfolded throughout the Old Testament.

In Genesis chapter 14 we read of the war of nine Kings, in which Sodom is defeated. After their defeat, the city was looted, and the inhabitants were taken away to be slaves. One of those inhabitants was Abram's nephew Lot.

As Jesus spoke of the cataclysmic events that would take place in the end times, he brought to our attention the destruction of a city destroyed in the book of Genesis: Sodom. Specifically, he called on his disciples to "remember Lot's wife" who was transformed into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the destruction befalling Sodom.

A strange declaration by the inhabitants of Sodom. Was Lot a judge in Sodom, or was this just their way of saying "you think you're better than us"? This is a question the team asked as we animated iBIBLE chapters 9 and 10.

Abraham walked, talked, sacrificed, fought, rescued, prayed, defended, and forged his faith throughout his journeys nearly 40 centuries ago. In iBIBLE chapters 8, 9, 10, and 11, we travel with Abraham, and we cover a lot of ground!

When Jacob left Haran, he was in a hurry. He knew that he needed to get as much distance as possible between himself and Laban. But he was not alone. In Chapter 14 of iBIBLE we had to answer a big question. How did Jacob cross the Euphrates river, with all he brought as he fled from Laban?

Abraham's relationship with God was of such intimacy that he thoroughly understood His character and purpose. He knew God, because he had relationship with him. We see this relationship play out in iBIBLE chapters 9 and 10.

Two great creatures, Behemoth and Leviathan, are described by God in Job. Some commentators have suggested Behemoth was an elephant or hippo, but the description simply doesn't match. In iBIBLE chapter 07 the second half of the book of Job comes to life. How then did we determine the design of the mighty Behemoth?

In the time period of the patriarchs, there are few locations that carry as much of the story as the city of Haran. Terah, Abram's father, passed away and was buried there. Isaac's wife, Rebekah, lived in Haran, and Jacob stayed in Haran for over two decades working under his uncle, Laban.

As we bring the iBIBLE to life and animate the story of Jacob, the well is a key component to uncover. What did the wells look like? How did they operate? What was the purpose of the large stone Jacob rolled away? How did a person water their flock at a well? Did the animals drink from a bucket, was there a trough nearby, or was there some part of the well that allowed the animals to drink?

The story of Rachel, Leah and Jacob unfolds in Genesis Chapter 29. In their story, we see the importance of bearing children. When Rachel sees Leah has mandrakes, she trades her night with Jacob in exchange for them.

When we read Job's response to his suffering, our hearts marvel at his trust in God and his acceptance of a loss that is so deeply painful, almost unimaginable. The task in front of the iBIBLE team is to bring this to life, with Biblical accuracy, for the people of the world. And the questions we wouldn't think to ask must now be explored.