[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOB 1
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21)
The Book of Job deals with a difficult problem – the presence of suffering by godly people. Job was righteous and blameless yet God permitted him to suffer because God had a divine purpose to prove to Satan and the angels the testimony of Job as a man of faith. We cannot question God’s ways. He does not have to explain to us. But God is completely sovereign in His dealings with His people. He permits anything to happen to the life of an obedient Christian for his good and for His glory. The book proved to us that God cares and that He never makes mistakes.
PROLOGUE (vs. 1-5)
Job lived in the land of Uz. He was humble, upright, God-fearing and blameless. He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He owned 7k sheep, 3k camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was considered as the greatest and wealthiest man among all the people of the East. Job and his children used to hold feast together and Job would purify them. He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them for their sins committed.
JOB’S FIRST TEST (vs. 6-22)
One day, the angels and Satan met the Lord. And the Lord told Satan: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fear God and shun evil” (Job 1:9) But Satan replied: Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face” (vs.9-11). So, the Lord allowed Satan to take away his possessions without harming his life.
What did Satan do to Job?
- Sabeans came to attack and carried away the oxen and donkeys and put the servants to the sword. Only one escaped to report to Job.
- The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants. Only one escaped to tell Job.
- The Chaldeans raided the camels and carried them off. They killed the servants and only one escaped to tell him
- His sons and daughters were feasting and dining at the oldest brother’s house and suddenly, a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the 4 corners of the house. It collapsed on all of them. Only one escaped to tell Job.
When Job heard it, he got up, tore his robes and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21)[:]