Job

Job Chapter 1

Job's Character and Wealth

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Job existed at one time in the land of Uz which was south of Edom and west of Arabia. Uz is mentioned in Lamentations 4:21. Job was a man who was considered righteous by God. Job hated evil and chose to fear God in all his ways.

Job 1:2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

God had blessed him with ten children and much cattle. He was content and happy. Job is mentioned in James chapter 5:11 and Ezekiel chapter 14. Also he was one of the sons of Issachar, who was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Genesis 46:13.

Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

This I can identify with. Job feared they might have sinned during their time of feasting so he offered up burnt offerings on their behalf. I pray constantly, usually in the morning for my children to be safe and right with God. They have all received Jesus in their lives and attend church but I pray constantly that the God's will is done in their lives and that they follow whatever God has called them to be and do. I pray for their children and their children's children after them until the coming of the Lord. I feel responsible for them since I was the one that raised at least the first generation of them and took care of a couple of the grand daughters while their mom's worked.

Satan Allowed to Test Job

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

The sons of God were the angels, one third of them rebelled against God while the other 2 thirds remained faithful to the Lord. How many there were in all, I have no clue of, but there are many. The term sons of God were used five times in the Old Testament and always referred to the angels. Job 1:6, Job 2:1 Job 38:4-7 and Genesis 6:1-4.

Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He seeks to steal, kill and devour. For some reason perhaps jealousy, he has hated the human creation and desires to destroy all he can. However, with those who love God and serve God, Satan's power is limited unless God allows it. Sometimes our bad choices can lead to bad things also so we can't blame everything on Satan. We do know that bad things happen to good people but there is coming a day when all that will pass away and only those that are safe in Christ will have a new body that can never die and be able to live with God in eternity. For now though Satan seeks to find fault and stir up evil.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

It would seem that this happened every once in a while, that these sons of God would come and give an account of themselves before God.

Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Satan must have come to accuse those that were not living right before God so I'm wondering if that is why God challenged him. My speculation here as to why God mentioned Job. We really don't know why for sure.

Satan had to seek permission to attack Job and his family. We might not understand this ourselves why God allowed this but we do know that God is a just and fair God. We don't always see the end results and what God has planned for us eternally. Sometimes it seems bad now but eternity awaits for every one that is faithful to God. The thing we need to major on is not to be someone that Satan can use to bad mouth and accuse our fellow believers in Jesus Christ. If we think they are doing something wrong or teaching a false doctrine, we go to them in person in the spirit of meekness to help. Always pray first though just in case we are mistaken.

If the person is a public figure and we have no way to go to them in person, it is better first to pray and then to warn others against the false teaching itself, not the person just in case we are wrong. We must not be an accuser of the brethren or else we are being a vessel Satan uses when we want to be a vessel God uses to help each other grow in the Lord.

Satan Takes Job's Property and Children

Job 1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

First the the Sabeans took away the cattle and slain those that were taking care of the cattle. Some records say the Sabeans were a people that made a habit of plundering and robbing. Perhaps descendants of Abraham through the wife he married after the death of Sarah which was Keturah. They lived east of Uz in the Abrabian dessert. Throughout the ages there has been invaders like the Vikings, pirates and others that invaded and plundered. I never could understand why everyone doesn't let everyone else alone except of course to preach the gospel that Jesus commanded but never by using force. God wants willing followers not puppets.

Next the a fire conumed the sheep and the servants that took care of them. Probably lightning. The servant that escaped said it was a fire from God. We see from these scriptures however, that the lightning was the work of Satan, not God.

Next the Chaldeans who were descendants of a son of Nahor Abraham's brother. They lived in Babylon. Kind of sad that Abraham's children never got along. Ishmael, Esau, Moab, Ammon, at times were enemies of Israel. Even today Israel is surrounded by those that hate them, many of whom are descendants of Abraham. So we see now who is behind all this hatred and evil. It is Satan. He is the one who hates Israel the most because Israel was chosen to bring forth the Son of God through the tribe of Judah.

A storm came next and caused the house to fall upon the children of Job. Job went into deep mourning but assumed it was the will of God and that God was smitting him but he did not sin against Him in any way. However we see that it was Satan that was doing all this to him not God. God's protecting hand was allowing it but it was Satan's desire to steal, kill and destroy Job or anyone who is part of the human race. DC

Job Chapter 2