The Book of Job Chapter 1
The book of Job is to me one of the most complex books of the Bible. It takes effort and disciplined study to keep track of what is going on. There are currents, and undercurrents here which are easy to miss.
Here's the first chapter of Job, with my comments.
Job 1:1-22 (KJV)
1 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.
The location of Uz is not precisely known, but is thought to be north of the land of Edom. From subsequent verses it must be a land capable of supporting many sheep, camels, oxen, she asses, and a great household. Job was very rich. Job was also righteous, an unlikely combination. Jesus spoke of this:
Matthew 19:24 (KJV)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Job is recorded here as being perfect and upright. He feared God and revolted against. . . repented from. . . turned away from evil. The reason it is so difficult for a rich man to be righteous, is the very great temptation for such a man to elevate the importance of his riches, and his ability to gain riches by his own hand, above God, thereby losing sight of the truth that all riches come from God. . . the foundation of all wealth is based on the blessings of God, but when our wealth becomes too important to us, we may tend to choose the protection of wealth before our relationship with God.
Job overcame such temptations.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
Seven sons, and three daughters, it's interesting to me that no grandchildren were mentioned here. From his 10 children, considering them all individual births, at the minimum Job had to have been 30 years old, considering that his children all had their own homes, he must have been at least 50 years old. Job was not a young man.
3 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.
Job was the richest of the rich. In today's accounting a mult-billionaire. He had many servants. Unspoken, but with 500 yoke of oxen. . . the equivalent of 500 farm tractors. Job must have had great areas of land under cultivation, and for pasturage for his sheep and other livestock.
4 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's sons had their own domiciles. One for each day of the week. It sounds as if the daughters were yet unmarried, and possibly living at home, but the sons also had enough substance that they feasted with their sisters.
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.
Job, a loving father, ever concerned more about the pious, righteous attitude of his children, than for his own riches or inconvenience, he devoted both his riches, and his time in offering to God for his children. He never gave off in offering and interceding for his children. Job was a humble man of righteous devotion.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Apparently an appointed day for review. From this it doesn't appear, that satan was invited, but having freedom of movement, he appeared in the midst of the other messengers (angels). satan was a party crasher, a biased accuser in the midst of unbiased reporters/observers.
7 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.
The infinite patience of God. From God's tolerance of the presence of satan in this assembly, by his recognizing of him and speaking to him, and querying him, it shows to me that even after all satan's rebellion, and evil that he has wrought, God still holds hope that satan can be reconciled to Him.
8 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?
Not to be overlooked is the history between God and satan. Considering how full of pride and envy satan/lucifer the fallen angel was. . . considering how he tried to put himself on par with God, before he was cast down, these words of God extolling Job, must have been acidic, cutting satan where it hurt him most deeply. In this verse, God was throwing all of satan’s flaws back in his face.
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
satan trying to tear Job down via the back door. He’s not attacking Job’s righteousness or uprightness. He’s casting the aspersion that Job’s motivation isn’t altruistic, but solely for the rewards that he receives from God.
10 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.
Planting the seed in the prior verse, he builds on it adding evidence to support his attack on Job, but this is actually an attack on all believers. Do we love God for who He is? Or do we love Him for what he does for us? This is truly an important question for us to ask ourselves. Would we love Him if His blessings stopped, and this is the premise of the book of Job. . . It is an important question for all of us. It goes to the depths of our faith. Is it relationship based, or is it reward based?
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
An accusation from the accuser. Can Job. . . can we in the face of disappointment, and deprivation. . .can we will we continue to love God, or will our love fade with the withdrawal of positive happenings in our lives?
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 grants satan power over everything outside of Job himself. God continues His insulation of Job’s person. What is God’s motivation here? Is His purpose to convert satan? Or an illustration for us. . . a two-pronged purpose, or something deeper that I haven’t considered?
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 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. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Sabeans took Job’s teams of oxen, and asses, and killed the servants.
Fire of God fell from heaven, burned up Job’s sheep, and servants.
Chaldeans took Job’s camels, and killed the servants
A great wind killed Job’s sons, and destroyed the oldest son’s house.
This is an unimaginable happening. Job had huge sacrificial love for his children. Earlier we saw Job’s great love and devotion for them, and now to lose all his riches, and his children in a short span. God gave satan authority over things external to Job. satan didn’t do anything with half-measures. He came down with the full force of his authority and given power all at once. . . It seems to me that he was trying to destroy Job, not merely prove or disprove Job’s loyalty to God.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 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. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Job worshipped God in his darkest hour. Proving that his love of God was deeper, and independent of his possessions. At this satan was defeated. satan’s accusations, and doubts of Job. . . indeed of all mankind were proven ill founded. he was truly shown to be the liar that he is. This should give hope to us all, that we can prevail in the face of tests, and trials of the devil. If Job could succeed, then so can we. . .
Comments