SCRIPTURE: JOB 2
JOB’S SECOND TEST (vs. 1-10)
Satan met the Lord and the Lord told him that Job still maintained his integrity even though he had lost everything. But Satan replied: “Skin for skin”. A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (vs. 4-5) The Lord allowed Job to be in Satan’s hand but his life must be spared.
So Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes. His wife told him to curse God and die. But Job replied: “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (v. 10)
JOB’S THREE FRIENDS (vs. 11-13)
When the three friends of Job – Eliphaz, the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Namathite, heard about the tragedies of Job, they agreed to go to meet Job to sympathize and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him. They wept aloud and tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. They they sat on the ground for 7 days and 7 nights without saying anything.
THOUGHTS:
Satan said that if Job lost his wealth and his children, he will curse God. However, Job did not blame God. Instead he said “Blessed is the name of the Lord!”. Now Satan suggested a new test of physical suffering for Job. But Job hold on to his faith in God and responded: “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” (v. 13)
Satan had to seek permission from God to inflict pain upon Job. But God limited Satan and did not allow him to destroy Job. God may allow suffering to come for reasons we cannot understand. If we always know why we are suffering, our faith would have no room to grow.
The three friends of Job came to comfort him. They remained silent knowing that Job’s pain was too deep to be healed with words. Sometimes, when we want to comfort a hurting friend, we do not need to say anything. Our presence in silence is a sign of loving companionship.