Job 1:1-22
Job and His Family in Uz
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.
Satan Attacks Job’s Character
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”
So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job Loses His Property and Children
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14 and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.
Job means means “Persecuted One” or “To Come Back” or “Repent.” This account of Job being persecuted by the adversary shows he did not blame God who allowed the attacks unknown to him behind the scenes. He trusted God no matter the circumstances and never blamed the Almighty for doing him wrong, even though he could not understand why all this was happening. When he lost his children, possessions, and servants, he tore his robe in repentance and grief and proclaimed that everything he had came from God and returned to Him with his own life in the end, and he blessed and glorified the LORD in trusting worship. He never knew how satan the adversary had asked to destroy Job and had been given limited power over him to test his faith and devotion to God. This man who was blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil, this man was sneered at by the evil one as if his protection by God was the only reason Job was such a good man, and wanted to attack him if God let up in His protection to prove his evil intentions. He imagined that any man with such riches and ease would immediately curse God if those things were taken from him. The first round proved him quite wrong. Job held to his faith and integrity. He did not curse God when all was taken from him and the boundary set by God to keep his body safe was the saving grace in this initial attempt to turn Job through great loss. Do we likewise worship God when adversity strikes and we lose loved ones or possessions or standing in the community? He is our example of holding faithfully as all is worked for our good (Romans 8:28) beyond our understanding in dire circumstances. We may be persecuted for the sake of Christ and the gospel (Matthew 5:10, Acts 5:41, Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 3:8-10, 11-12, 2 Timothy 3:12, 1 Peter 4:12), but we can take heart and trust God instead of blaming Him in this world broken and corrupt by Adam’s sin we inherited that stains the earth around us. We do battle in the unseen realm with heavenly powers, knowing the Lord reigns over all and has us in His hands of grace until the end. Trust Him.
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