The Purpose of Divine Tests: A Lesson from Job, Mysticism, and Scripture
Throughout the Torah, the Qur'an, the Zohar, and the Talmud, the concept of divine testing appears repeatedly. God tests individuals like Abraham, Moses, the Israelites, and Job, yet He is also described as all-knowing. How can an all-knowing God test people? Does this imply a contradiction, or is there a deeper purpose to these tests?
Our discussion revealed that divine tests are not for God to gain new knowledge but to allow human beings to actualize their potential, refine their souls, and demonstrate righteousness through action.
1. Why Does God Test If He Already Knows Everything?
The Torah and Qur'an emphasize that God knows all things, past and future. Yet, He still tests people. This suggests that the purpose of testing is not for God’s knowledge, but rather for human development.
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 107a) explains that tests exist to bring out a person's hidden righteousness.
The Zohar teaches that divine tests refine the soul and lead a person toward spiritual elevation, rather than serving as mere pass-or-fail challenges.
For example, Abraham's test with Isaac (Akedah) did not provide new information to God, but it demonstrated Abraham’s unwavering faith to himself and to others. Similarly, the Qur'an mentions divine tests as a way for believers to prove their sincerity:
“Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe,’ without being tested?” (Qur’an 29:2)
Thus, divine tests are not contradictions to omniscience; they are opportunities for humans to manifest their choices and prove their faith.
2. The Book of Job: A Test Beyond Satan’s Accusation
At first glance, Job’s suffering appears to be a response to Satan’s accusation that Job serves God only because of his blessings. However, by the end of the book, it becomes clear that the test was not just about answering Satan but transforming Job himself.
The Zohar explains that Job’s suffering was meant to elevate him spiritually. His endurance led him to a deeper understanding of God.
The Talmud (Bava Batra 16a) emphasizes that Job’s suffering was not punishment but a trial to reveal the depths of his righteousness.
Job’s final realization (Job 42:5) shows that his faith evolved: from knowing about God intellectually to experiencing the Divine firsthand.
This reflects the Zohar’s idea that suffering expands the soul’s capacity for divine understanding, aligning with the concept of tikkun (spiritual repair).
3. Testing as Refinement, Not Just Judgment
Our discussion also explored how divine tests are linked to refinement rather than punishment. The Kolbrin Bible, like the Zohar, speaks of trials as a means of purifying the soul rather than mere retribution.
Job’s friends assumed that suffering equaled divine punishment, a belief also challenged in the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 12:1).
The Zohar describes suffering as a fire that purifies gold, burning away impurities rather than destroying the righteous.
The Qur’an also aligns with this view, stating that tests are meant to distinguish the sincere from the insincere (Qur’an 3:142).
4. Divine Testing and Free Will
One of the major questions in our discussion was: If God already knows the result, do humans really have free will?
Jewish and Islamic teachings agree that foreknowledge does not negate free will. The Talmud teaches that
"everything is foreseen, but free will is given" (Pirkei Avot 3:15).
Similarly, the Qur'an acknowledges both divine knowledge and human responsibility (Qur'an 18:29).
Thus, tests are not about changing God’s knowledge but about allowing humans to make real choices that justify reward or consequence.
5. The Greater Purpose of Testing: A Universal Lesson
Looking beyond Job, we see that divine tests are a universal theme across religious traditions:
Abraham’s sacrifice (Genesis 22) was a test of faith.
Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness were tested through hardships.
Jonah faced a trial that led to his transformation.
The Qur'an speaks of life itself as a test (67:2).
The Kolbrin Bible also mentions trials as part of soul purification and growth.
All these examples show that divine testing is not about proving something to God but about bringing the tested person to greater spiritual awareness.
Conclusion: The Meaning of Divine Tests in Our Lives
Through our discussion, we arrived at a profound realization: divine tests are not about proving something to God, but about revealing something in us. They bring out our hidden strengths, refine our souls, and lead us toward a deeper understanding of the Divine.
Job’s story teaches that suffering, though painful, can lead to wisdom. Abraham’s test shows that faith is demonstrated through action. The mystical traditions confirm that trials serve to elevate the soul.
In our own lives, when we face hardships, we can ask not only "Why is this happening?" but also "What is this revealing about me?" Like Job, we may not receive all the answers, but we can emerge wiser, stronger, and closer to the Eternal.
