An Essay on the Book of Job

The book of Job shows how satan was the individual harming Job. The book of Job also shows us how disaster can strike, but God can also turn things around for us.

(Job 1:1-4) 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. And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 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. 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.

Job was a good man who feared God and avoided evil.  He had a lovely family, great wealth, and was the greatest of all the men of the east.  Job was respected, admired, and he worshipped God.

(Job 1:5) 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.

A curse is a blasphemous expression of anger. Job loved and prayed for his family, but somewhere inside, Job had fear.  Job thought his sons may have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Job offered burnt offerings for his sons continually.  Continually is ceaselessly, over and over again. It’s no wonder in Job 3:25 Job said: "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." It's important to pray for each other and confess positive for ourselves and our families.

(Proverbs 6:2) Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

One day when the sons of God presented themselves to God, satan crashed the gathering.  God asked satan where he came from and what are you doing here. Satan said he was going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it. I believe satan still does this and we must be sober and vigilant.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

God and satan talked about Job...since you're walking up and down the earth, then you must have seen my servant Job? But just in case you missed Job, he is perfect, upright and fears God and stays away from evil.

I believe satan threw a fit and complained that God was unfair.  Satan argued that if God took away the hedge around Job, and Job lost all that he had, that Job would curse God to the face.  Have you ever heard satan snivel before?  In my experience, I have heard demons admit that God is always helping me.  It’s very powerful, and I am so grateful for God’s help.  Thank you, Lord! 

(Job 1:11-12) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 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.

It doesn't say that God put forth his hand to touch all that Job had. Verse 11 says that Satan said, "Put forth your hand and touch all that Job has and he will curse you to the face." Satan left the Lord’s presence, plotting his attack on Job. I think satan is constantly accusing us whether or not we sinned.

(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:

In verse 13, it says that Job's sons and daughters were eating/drinking wine. Although it doesn't say Job offered burnt offerings for his sons at this time, verse 5 says that Job did this continually. In one day (vs. 14-19), Job's children died, and his wealth was wiped out.

(Job 1:16) 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.

There isn't any evidence that God hit Job's livestock/servants with fire. The Bible doesn’t say God rained fire from heaven. Consider 1 Kings 18:38, " Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench." Job 1:16 says a servant said fire of God fell from heaven.  God didn’t give Himself credit for the fire. A servant thought it was fire of God. If fire came from God in heaven, I doubt there would be a survivor or anything left. The servant didn’t know God gave Satan permission to touch Job’s family/belongings. As good as Job was, there's no evidence Job knew satan existed.  Job's belief in God was apparent to his servants, because the servant saw the destruction and assumed it was the fire of God.

I heard this in a teaching recently..."The enemy will always attack at the last point he was successful." Job's weakness is fear. Satan attacked at Job's weakest point where he had the most success before.

In Job 2:1-7, there was another day when the sons of God presented themselves before the Lord, and satan was there. God and satan talked about Job. Satan argued that Job would give all that he has for his life. If Job lost his health, he would curse God to the face. I think satan was counting on Job's fear. God said that Job was in satan's hand, but satan could not take Job's life.  When satan left the presence of the Lord, he (satan) afflicted Job with boils from the bottom of his foot to the top of his head.

Job doesn't have a lot left as far as family and relationships at this point. Job's wife urged him to curse God and die, but Job refused and struggled to accept the tragedies/misfortunes that had happened. We don't hear from satan after Job 2:7, but Job's wife is doing exactly what satan wants her to do. Everyone acknowledged that Job feared/worshipped God, but the Bible doesn't say that Job's wife and family feared/worshipped God. In Job 2:10, Job tells his wife she's talking foolishly.

Job wished he had never been born and curses the day he was born. He wishes his birth was shrouded in darkness and feels light/life, increases his misery. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar offer their advice and suggest that Job did some evil and offended God. They question Job's behavior. Bildad thought Job’s children brought their deaths upon themselves. Zophar thinks Job did wrong and deserves more punishment than he received. Job called his friends “physicians of no value” and "miserable comforters". (Job 13:4; 16:2). Job wondered why God judges us by our actions if God can easily forgive us. God's ways are unfathomable, beyond our understanding. Humans can't persuade/deceive God with words.  Job admits he doesn't understand himself well enough to plead his case to God. Job wishes for an advocate between himself/God. It makes me think of Jesus Christ how he is the mediator between God and man. Jesus Christ is our witness in heaven and advocate on high. I love that Jesus is our friend. He pleads on our behalf with God as our friend.

Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. (Job 16:19-21 NIV)

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)

On the other hand, Elihu, proclaimed the greatness of God. If we're praying and seeking answers, I think it's important to remember Job 37:24...(Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.) The ESV says...He doesn't regard any who are wise in their own conceit. It's okay to say to God, I don't understand would you please explain it to me. Or when facing a problem, tell God it's above what you can handle and ask for help. 

God talked to Job from a whirlwind and discussed His creation. Job was overwhelmed and acknowledged God’s unlimited power and admits the limits of his knowledge. God was pleased by Job's response, but was upset with Job's friends because they had not spoken the truth about God like Job had. (Job 42:7) In verse 8, God told Job to offer a burnt offering for his friends and to pray for them, and God forgives Job's friends. God returns Job’s health, providing him with more property, new children, and a long life. (Job 42:12-16) Job stayed faithful to God. I love that Job gave to help his friends. Prayer for others is very loving and giving.