GOD & JOB

Have you heard of Job? The Bible says that he “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” [1]

Job had ten children and 11,000 animals. He was the greatest of all the people of the East. [2]

The devil wanted to destroy Job’s good relationship with God, so he sought permission from God to takeaway all Job’s blessings. He told God, “Stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” So, God gave Satan permission to touch Job’s possessions but not his person. [3]

Satan’s agents, the Sabeans, stole Job’s 500 oxen and 500 donkeys, and slew their caregivers. [4]

He made fire fall from heaven and burned up Job’s 7,000 sheep and their caregivers. [5]

Satan’s agents, the Chaldeans, stole Job’s 3,000 camels, and killed their caregivers. [6]

Satan caused a great wind to destroy Job’s oldest son’s house. All ten of his children died that day. [7]

What did Job do after this? He fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said: “’Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job, did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” [8]

Then, Satan asked God to touch Job’s bone and his flesh so that Job would “Surely curse You (God) to Your face!” The Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” “So, Satan struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.” [9]

“In all this, Job did not sin with his lips.” [10] Job loved God even after Satan stole his possessions and his health.

The next test was the greatest challenge to Job’s relationship with God. His three friends began to pit God’s integrity against Job’s. Job defended his behavior towards God. This dialogue between Job and his three friends continues for 30 chapters. Then, a young man jumps in on conversation. He talks for six chapters. Finally, God speaks for four chapters. He reminds Job that He is God and that He is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things. Job repented of questioning God’s integrity. The Lord told Job’s three friends that they did not speak right about Him as Job did. He commanded them to offer a sacrifice and to ask Job to pray for them. They obeyed the Lord. [11]

We can never out-give God. Whatever we sacrifice for Him, He always gives us more in return. “The Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed. the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [12]

I have observed this pattern during my life, and so have others. Usually, after times of great trials comes seasons of great blessings.

“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” [13]

Job ended up with 22,000 animals, ten children, and he saw his children’s children unto the fourth generation. He lived 140 years. [14]

“Blessed be the Name of the Lord!”

[1] Job 1:1
[2] Job 1:2-3
[3] Job 1:10-12
[4] Job 1:14-15
[5] Job 1:16
[6] Job 1:17
[7] Job 1:18-19
[8] Job 1:20-22
[9] Job 2:4-7
[10] Job 2:10
[11] Job 42:1-8
[12] Job 42:10
[13] Job 42:12
[14] Job 42:12-17