A Week in the Book of Job: Part One

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord and the Accuser, Satan, came with them.“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.” Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!” “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence. Job 1:1-3, 6-12 New Living Translation (NLT) Most people have heard of Job. Even those who are not believers in God's Word are somewhat familiar with his story in the Bible. The phrase "the patience of Job" is often used to describe situations of trial and trouble that will ultimately result in God's grace. Although the authorship of this Book of the Bible is debated among scholars, it is included in Scripture. Let's allow it to be a question to ask of God while we enjoy eternity in His Kingdom. For now, let's examine its content much as we do the words of Jesus Christ when He taught us the way to eternal life in God's Kingdom through parables. When God gave the accuser and enemy of our souls permission to test Job, he went right to work. Job lost everything. All he lost is itemized in Scripture and it is quite a lengthy Book of the Bible and a very interesting read. When we "go through" tribulation in this world for reasons we cannot understand, we must remember that nothing happens outside of God's will for those who believe in His will. After the time of Job, God would send His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide a way for us to remain in His will if we would accept Him as the only way and follow Him. That way included Christ dying for our sin. Even without Jesus or even the Jewish law, Job was a man who believed in God. This belief is what our enemy is literally hell-bent on destroying. He rears his ugly head to battle our devotion to our Creator each and every time we attempt to display it. Why? No one can truly answer that question right now; but believers know that it is true and it has been going on since the beginning. Yet, we who believe also know that God controls our enemy too. Job lost everything but His faith. Adam and Eve gave everything away right along with their faith. Jesus was sent to put things back in order and finish God's plan of redemption to establish His Kingdom. "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV