Hello and welcome to Job! Wow, this is a book about a guy who served God with every fiber of his being and in doing so he pleased the Lord very much with his devotion and reverence. the first two chapters open up with Job having the world by the tail, so to speak. He was very prosperous, he had a large family although it tells how his children were kind of party animals, for which Job would regularly offer sacrifices to God on their behalf for any wrong doing they may have done.
I think the whole point of this is to say that faithfulness to God should always come first. Job was no doubt in much pain, first for the loss of all ten of his children, then as if that's not enough, every beast and livestock that he owned was either killed or stolen along with all his servants and caretakers. That is a lot of tragedy or one person but Job refused to allow his pain to turn him away form his love of God.
I found it interesting that Satan accompanied a group of angels who went before the Lord in what sounded like a sort of staff meeting. I'm just not sure why Satan was in attendance, obviously he couldn't fool God.
Satan had nothing but contempt for the love that God had for His faithful servant, Job, claiming that its easy for one to be good when everything in their life is great and they have more than everything they could need in abundance, he submitted that Job's love was false because it was based on this. He accused God of spoiling Job with prosperity and protecting him from any troubles. Satan claimed that all men were the same, when things are good and they are happy, they are loving and faithful because it is easy but when trouble hits they are quick to turn on God.
God believed and trusted Job's faithfulness as sincere, as He would have known Job's true heart. God gave Satan permission to take away everything Job had, just not to harm Job. Satan was quick to carry out his task and he devastated Job's life but Job remained faithful to God.
In chapter two we see Satan back in another meeting among the angels before God. Again God asks where Satan has been ( note that in both cases God know exactly where Satan has been, however He asks and the reply is the same), Satan says he has been walking the earth. Again God questions Satan about what he thinks of Job, gain Satan shows contempt for Job's faithfulness, saying that he would not be if it were himself that were in pain. Again God gives permission for Satan to do his worst, but not to kill him. Again Satan strikes Job, this time with horrible, painful sores all over his body. Even Job's wife says he should curse God and jsut die to get it over with. But Job understands that God is good and that He gives and takes away, we don't always understand why but Job is okay with not knowing the why, he doesn't even complain, he just trusts that God is God and holds to his faith.
These first two chapters are good lessons for today. How many times have I been so faithful in my worship of God when things are going smooth in my life? Only to be hit with a tragedy or trauma? Was my response always as faithful as Jobs? I would like to say yes but in all honesty I cannot. I know that there have been times when I wallowed, first, in my misery in one way or another before coming to my senses returning to my worship of God. Something I would like to think that I am better at today than I was before but I still doubt that I could compare myself to Job.
It was interesting to see not only Satan in attendance with angels before God, also how God pointed out that all Job had on earth was in his (Satan's) power, reminding us that here on earth it is Satan's playground to do what damage he can while here.
Well, that's all I have for today. Please leave your thoughts on this reading by clicking directly on the word "comment" below.
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