Job 1:1-2- 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.
You see, the devil didn't stop entering before the Lord God Almighty's throne when he became Satan. He was the ruler of the kingdoms of the World, but he still came before God every so often.
Job 1:6-7- Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 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.
What do you suppose they talked about? The devil probably had to give an account of his doings. But, he also liked to accuse humanity of their wickedness before God.
Job 1:8-11- 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? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 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. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
God asked Satan what he thought about Job. Job tried to do right, and God had greatly blessed him because of it.
Satan told God that the only reason that Job feared God and did right was because God had blessed him. So, God decided to use Job to prove the devil wrong!
Job 1:12-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.
God told Satan that he could take away all the blessings that had been bestowed upon Job, only Satan couldn't physically hurt Job.
So, the devil went down and in one day killed all Job's children and took all his wealth.
Job 1:20-22- Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 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. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
God knew that Job would stand firm. Even though he was of a sorrowful heart, he still worshipped the Lord God Almighty!
Job 2:1-2- Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
God, again, had a meeting in heaven. Satan came to this meeting, and God wanted to know what he thought about Job passing the test.
Job 2:3- 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? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
God told Satan that Job was still doing right, even though all his riches were gone.
But, Satan had another argument.
Job 2:4-6- And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
Satan said that if Job were in physical pain that he wouldn't worship God. So, the Lord decided to allow the devil to prove his point.
Satan was given permission to hurt Job, only he couldn't kill him.
Job 2:7-8- So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Poor Job! He didn't know what was going on. All he knew was that God had allowed him to lose his children, his riches, and now his health. He sat down in the ashes that were left from his wealth and tried to scrape away the nastiness from his wounds.
But, the devil wasn't done. He was going to try to provoke Job into cursing God.
Job 2:9-10- Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Job's wife told him to curse God and die. If he were dead, he wouldn't be in pain anymore. But, Job knew that cursing the Lord God Almighty was wrong. Even though he didn't understand why God allowed these things to happen. He was still going to trust Him.
Wow! I bet the devil wasn't expecting that answer!
Job had some friends that came to see him. Three good friends, and another man who is mentioned later on in the book of Job.
Job 2:11-13- Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.
As Job's friends, and this one acquaintance, came near they were astonished by what they saw. They saw a man who was grotesque sitting covered in sores and ashes. They didn't even recognize him!
The rent their clothes and sat down with him mourning. But, they were silent because, I guess, they just didn't know what to say!
Job 3:1-2,11 - After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
After days of pain, Job finally spoke. He knew not to curse God, so instead he cursed his own life; He wished that he had never been born.
Satan saw that Job was breaking. He decided to take it one step further and add mental anguish to Job's life.
Job 4:1, 7-8- Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job's friends started to accuse him of doing evil things. They said that was why God allowed this to happen to him.
But, the time in which Job lived was different from our time now. God had always blessed those who lived right. The only time anyone was ever cursed by God was when they had done wrong. So, Job's friends just knew that he had done something!
Job 5:6-7,27 -Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.
For a long time, Job argued with his friends that his works were righteous. He said that he did nothing to deserve this.
Job 32:1- So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
After much debate, Job's three friends fell silent. They saw that they were getting no where because Job was righteous in his own eyes.
This is when the fourth man finally spoke up!
Job 32:2-3- Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Elihu had sat listening to the conversation of these men. He was angry that Job justified himself. And, he was also mad at the other men for not answering correctly.
Job 32:6-7, 11-12; 33:1, 8-9, 12; 34:10, 12; 35:2; 37:14- And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Elihu argued that God was just no matter what His reasons. And, he told Job that he was wrong in not accepting that.
We don't know what Job thought about Elihu's opinion, because Job never got the chance to answer.
Job 38:1-4, 12, 33-34; 40:1-2- Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
God told Job to answer for himself. Then he asked Job a few questions. Was Job there when God created the earth? Did Job tell the sun to rise? Was Job in control of the stars? Could Job make it rain? Answer me!
What would you do if all of a sudden God sent a tornado and started talking to you from it? Just imagine how scared you would be!
Job 40:3-4- Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Job said that he was unworthy to answer God!
But, God wasn't going to accept Job's silence after listening to all the arguments between him and these other four men.
Job 40:6-8- Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
God continued to tell Job about all that He could do, and did do. And, do you know what Job said?
Job 42:1-2, 5-6- Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
Job said, "I'm sorry! Please, forgive me!"
And, guess what? God forgave him!!
But, God wasn't done just yet.
You see, Job wasn't the only one who had misspoken. Job's three friends were also guilty.
Job 42:7-8- And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Job's three friends had accused him of doing wrong. Job hadn't sinned! The only thing Job was guilty of was accusing God, and that was after his friends accused him of wrongdoing.
God told them to apologize to Job and offer a sacrifice. They would be forgiven when Job prayed for them.
Job 42:10- And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
God waited for Job to forgive his friends. Once he prayed for them, God gave Job his children and his wealth back. In fact, God doubled Job's riches!
Job 42:12a, 16-17- So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.
God gave Job a long and happy life. He was able to see his great grand children!
Why would God include this story in the Bible?????
Revelation 12:10- 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.
God told us this story because Satan still goes before God and accuses us of our sins! He wants us to be punished for all the wrongdoing that we commit.
Isn't that terrible!
But, don't worry! We serve a wonderful Savior, and He has given us something far better than even Job had! If you have asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save you, you have an advocate that's on your side standing before God all the time!
Romans 8:28, 34- And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25- Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
The whole time the devil is telling God how bad you are, the Lord Jesus Christ is right there reminding God that He paid for our sins!
And, just like Job we can be forgiven by God if only we ask!
I John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I'm a "whosoever" that believed on the Lord Jesus Christ! And, when the devil accuses me before God, Christ is right there interceding on my behalf!
