The Oak Ridge Boys - Jonah, Job and Moses Lyrics
Lyrics
They were solid as a rock and stubborn as a stone
Honest to the core and ornery to the bone
And the Good Book says
Their lot in life was not a bed of roses
For Jonah, Job and Moses.
Now Jonah knew the darkness in the belly of a whale
And Job saw tribulation and Moses went through hell
There were tears and fears and heartaches
In big and bigger doses
For Jonah, Job and Moses.
And me, I'm just a struggling soul
Ten thousand years removed
I've been lost out in the desert
I've been swallowed and consumed
And I pray to God for patience
Make me more like those three
Help me survive my troubles
Let me join that band of brothers
Let it be Jonah, Job, Moses and me.
I've battled with some demons and I've lost the ones I've loved
I shook my fist at Jesus and I could not rise above
It was in the anger of those hours
I came to feel the closest
To Jonah, Job and Moses
'Cause me, I'm just a struggling soul
Ten thousand years removed
I've been lost out in the desert
I've been swallowed and consumed
And I pray to God for patience
Make me more like those three
Help me survive my troubles
Let me join that band of brothers
Let it be Jonah, Job, Moses and me.
Lord, let it be Jonah, Job, Moses and me.
They were solid as a rock
And stubborn as a stone.
Video
Bill & Gloria Gaither - Jonah, Job & Moses [Live] ft. The Oak Ridge Boys
Meaning & Inspiration
Released as part of *The Gospel Collection* in 2008, "Jonah, Job, and Moses" by The Oak Ridge Boys delves into the profound resilience and unwavering faith demonstrated by three iconic figures from Scripture. The song masterfully weaves their individual narratives of intense trials into a universal anthem of perseverance for the modern believer. It doesn't merely recount biblical events; rather, it positions these ancient stories as beacons of hope, illuminating the path for contemporary souls grappling with their own "bed of roses" that is decidedly not so rosy. The Oak Ridge Boys articulate a compelling argument that the struggles faced by Jonah in the depths of the sea, Job amidst devastating loss, and Moses enduring the arduous journey through the wilderness, were not unique in their intensity but rather exemplary models of spiritual fortitude.
The core of the song's message lies in its relatable confession of personal hardship and a deep yearning for the kind of unwavering strength embodied by these biblical characters. The narrator openly admits to being a "struggling soul," experiencing trials that echo the despair and isolation of those ancient heroes. The imagery of being "lost out in the desert" and "swallowed and consumed" directly calls to mind the prophet Jeremiah's laments, such as in Jeremiah 20:9, where he describes God's word as a "fire shut up in my bones," making it impossible to keep silent even amidst suffering. The plea for patience and the desire to be more like Jonah, Job, and Moses, to "join that band of brothers," is a powerful prayer for divine equipping to face life's inevitable tribulations. This resonates with the Psalmist's cry in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me," acknowledging the internal transformation needed to endure external pressures. The song powerfully connects the narrator's personal battles with unseen "demons" and the profound pain of losing loved ones, a sentiment that finds a somber parallel in the book of Job. Job, despite his immense suffering and the temptations to curse God, ultimately declared in Job 1:21, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Similarly, the narrator's admission of shaking a fist at Jesus, a moment of profound anger and despair, leads not to condemnation but to a surprising closeness with the very figures who epitomized endurance. This suggests that even in our darkest moments of doubt and anger, the pursuit of faith and the lessons from Scripture can offer a profound pathway to spiritual connection and eventual peace. The repeated refrain, "Let it be Jonah, Job, Moses and me," is not a desire for suffering itself, but a fervent wish for the grace and unshakeable spirit that allowed these biblical figures to emerge not just intact, but transformed and victorious in their faith.