Comparative Analysis of the Nature of God in the Book of Job and the Nature of God in Beowulf - Essay Example

Through the didactic narrative of the book in prose structure herein, the nature of God is conveyed to be an entity in continuous engagement with man in any circumstances. God is shown to bear the capacity of withholding a saving act for a great cause and apart from the typical myth of gods that reward or punish, Job’s serves as one that introduces the God not only of infinite might but also of vast wisdom and understanding. In the Book of Job, God’s nature exhibits the sensible trait of setting a creative challenge that refines a man’s enduring faith and sense of profound commitment to spirituality.

While Job is portrayed in the Bible as a wealthy upright man with seven sons, three daughters, servants, and a livestock in abundant quantity, Beowulf, a hero of the Geats in Scandinavia, assumes the figure of exceeding courage and whose chief aim is to gain victory over fierce moments of battle with Grendel whom King Hrothgar seeks to be defended from. Like Job, Beowulf is a steadfast believer, constantly acknowledging God for his survival and security from monstrous perils, however, he does not experience the nature of God who draws back from coming to aid as long as he keeps his heart pure and his virtues intact as a warrior.

On confessing “The fight would have ended straightaway if God had not guarded me”, he gives evidence to a supreme being who appears rather decisive merely between protecting the good and neglecting the bad. This is further justified in the part of the literary piece that with biblical parallel states “For the killing of Abel / The Eternal Lord had exacted a price: / Cain got no good from committing that murder / because the Almighty made him anathema / and out of the curse of his exile there sprang / ogres and elves and evil phantoms / and the giants too who strove with God / time and again until He gave them their reward.

” As it turns out, the Christian philosophy demonstrated in the epic poem of Beowulf speaks of God in the light of idealism where God may not be expected to fail a man’s hope as much as he cannot be suppressed from condemning the transgression of Cain that He has gone far as allowing curses to befall upon the sinner’s descendants. The heroic character of Beowulf seems to have had enough ordeal on combating the beast so the Anglo-Saxon poet comes up with a romanticized concept of God. In the case of Job, on the other hand, Job’s trials present God’s nature as viewed from the context of realism.

It holds consistent regard to the account in the Book of Genesis that “man is created in the image and likeness of God” for God Himself reflects certain human qualities that in Job’s life, he functions with thoughtful concern and mode of communication based on full awareness of the conflicts Job is confronted with. For the sake of Job, God has made his real presence felt as He talks and rebukes his friends -- Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar and deals with Satan in a casual manner instead of considering to vanish all the evil schemes which Satan negotiates with Him, confident that the enemy will later fall into his own trap.

On the contrary, Beowulf’s God lacks a sensible purpose whereby a critical observer can possibly note the limit in God’s ability to establish a more personal connection with man because he acts as a distant Protector.   King Hrothgar testifies of God “It is a wonder to say how in His great spirit God gives wisdom to mankind, land and