Have You Considered?

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Does Job fear God for nothing?’ Satan replied. ‘Have you not 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.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'” (Job 1:8-12, NIV 1984).

My Musings – When is a cosmic wager not a cosmic wager? When it is a sure bet. God, who “[makes] known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come, [says]: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isaiah 46;10, NIV 1984), already knew how things would end. And He had nothing to prove to Satan. So, what was the point? Perhaps it had more to do with how countless people through the ages would be inspired and encouraged down through the ages.

The drama played out in two stages. The first stage was, “strike everything he has.”

The Sabeans attacked – “A messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!'” (Job 1:14-15, NIV 1984).

The fire of God fell – “While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!'” (Job 1:16, NIV 1984).

The Chaldeans raided – “While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!'” (Job 1:17, NIV 1984).

A mighty wind swept in – “While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them, and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!'” (Job 1:18-19, NIV 1984).

Job’s response? Not what you’d expect. “‘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.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:21-22, NIV 1984).

For phase two, “Satan replied. ‘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.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.'” (Job 2:4-5, NIV 1984).

Painful sores – “The Lord and 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 and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.” (Job 2:7-8, NIV 1984).

Job’s response? “‘Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10, NIV 1984). Again, not what you’d think.

It’s hard to imagine someone going through what Job did and not sinning “in what he said” or “by charging God with wrongdoing.” God is certainly being accused of wrongdoing by many in today’s culture.

Between this point in the book of Job and the end, there is much to learn about God’s character. But the end might clear up some doubts one might have at this point in his story. In the end, “the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so he died, old and full of years.” (Job 42:10, 12-13, 16-17, NIV 1984).

My Advice – Not many will be called to go through as much as Job did. But whatever we are called to go through, “‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.'” (Mark 10:29-30, NIV 1984).

As for Job? Still inspiring in these last days. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27, NIV 1984). Like Abraham, Job believed in his redeemer and the second resurrection, and it was “credited it to him as righteousness.”

When you have troubles and persecutions in this life, remember, it’s “for [Him] and the gospel.”