Job’s Tale

The Bible tells the story of a very wealthy man who live in the land of Uz called  Job. He was a man who always did the right thing, who loved God and stayed  away from evil. Job was not only rich; he had a big family with a wife, seven  sons and three daughters. Job was very devout which meant he prayed

everyday for himself as well as his family. He even offered up prayers for his children when they had partied in case they had cursed God in their hearts.

One-day Job’s world was turned upside down. It all started when Satan, a bad angel who had been thrown out of heaven, appeared at a counsel of the Angels. God asked him where he had come from and he replied that he had been going to and from across the earth. God then asked him if he had noticed his servant Job, in fact God described him as the finest man in all the earth who fears God and who would have nothing to do with evil. Satan wanted to put Job to the test as he felt that Job was only obedient because God had

always protected his family, wealth and health. Satan felt that if God took everything away from Job then Job would curse God. God was confident that  Job would not turn against him so he agreed that Satan could do anything to Job’s possessions as long as he did not harm him physically. Satan decided to do his worst and this is how it unfolded.

One day when Job’s children were at a party at their eldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home  and told him that the Sabeans had stolen all his oxen and sheep and killed all the farm workers and he was the only one  that had escaped. While the servant was speaking, another messenger arrived

with the news that fire had come down from heaven and burnt up all the sheep and shepherds and he was the only one who had escaped. Before this  messenger finished speaking, another messenger came with the news that  three groups of Chaldean raiders had stolen his camels and killed his servants and again he was the only one who had escaped. Things were just getting worse and before this servant had finished another servant came in with the worst news of all. The servant explained that all ten children were having a

party at the eldest son’s house and a tornado had blown the house down, killing them all. Job was so heartbroken by all this bad news that he tore his clothes and shaved his head. Imagine losing your wealth, your servants and children in one day; that is hard to imagine, yet in this entire time Job did not

blame or curse God.

At another meeting of the angels Satan turned up and when God asked him  where he came from, Satan once again said he was going up and down across  earth. The Lord again asked Satan if he had noticed Job and described him as the finest man on earth. Satan still disagreed because he felt that a man would

give up everything for his life. Satan felt that if God took away Job’s health then Job would indeed curse God, so God agreed, but warned Satan not to kill him. Satan made painful boils appear all over Job’s body from his

head to his toe, they hurt so much that he had to use a piece of a broken clay pot to scratch himself. His wife told him he should curse God and die but Job refused to do so.  Even when his three friends came to visit with him and told him that he must have done something wrong, Job refused to curse God.

Because of his faithfulness, God eventually restored Job to full health and  gave him twice as much wealth as he had had before. He also gave him seven more sons and three more daughters. Job lived 140 years after that, long enough to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. He lived a long, good life.

This story makes me think of two things; one is that we have no guarantee that we will be safe and sound. Bad things do happen to good people and sometimes it seems that bad people get all the benefits. But we don’t see the whole story just the part we live so just like Job I want to trust in God because I

know in the end He will bring me through, whether I understand it all or not.

Janice

This article is based on the book of Job in the Bible you can read it by clicking here