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Rich guy. Lost it all. God allowed it. Three friends who tried to comfort him but ended up making up good religious reasons for Job’s condition. Job had a wife of course. The devil didn’t kill her, just the seven sons and three daughters. Being a rational wife she told Job to tell God to go to hell and then die. It gives me the impression that Job’s wife and children were fairly expendable. God allowed Satan to do whatever, just don’t kill Job.
Satan was a crafty little dude. Killing all the children. Right on. Sheep, oxen, and servants? Yes. But, unhappy bitchy wife. Nah, let’s leave her in place, a cheerleader for Satan. Pressure, Satan needed pressure to make Job curse God and who better to supply that than his ungodly wife. Ungodly? She never came alongside Job and said, “honey, I think we should pray about this”. No, it’s before the “comforters” came, “let’s curse God”. He’s to blame. Why if he was a good God this wouldn’t have happened. Happy wife, happy life. No, Job’s got to curse God and die. Maybe she had life insurance, I don’t know. But Job was not of any use to her anymore.
The story of Job has always been “weird” to me. Maybe not weird but frightening. All the tragedy happened within minutes, even at the same time. Job knew instinctively this was God’s doing. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, right? He didn’t understand why. That’s what I’m trying to figure out.
I know that God chastens the son he loves but that’s some pretty heavy chastening. And allowing the death of all his children? That’s horrendous. Is it possible Job’s children were much like their mama? Ungrateful, prideful, self-indulgent, older kids; maybe they’d already been given enough time to repent. After all, Job sacrificed daily just in case his kids sinned. I think he knew they continued sinning long after they’d been warned. Job was unequally yoked, at least that’s how it seemed. She likes to party too. Job? No, he was humble before the Lord. Boring guy. God’s guy.
Satan walks in (with other angels) to God’s presence. The arch-enemy that he is, he just waltzes in like he owns the place. What you up to Satan? Oh, looking around the earth. God says, “have you considered my servant Job?” Ya, God, you’re his sugar daddy, he lives a charmed life, of course, he loves you. Take away his goodies and he will curse you to your face. Go for it Satan. Just like that. Everything Job had was now in Satan’s hands. Except for his life. And Satan had Job’s wife for a cheerleader.
I notice how God so easily tosses the lives away of those that don’t love Him. Ten human beings. After all is said and done, God gives Job ten more, kinda like, here ya go, ten kids, have some more. It makes me think about the verse: “it’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”. The Bible says “His ways are above our ways.” It is impossible to understand God. I recognize his respect for position and authority that he has endorsed. All the despots who ever lived have been given their position by Him. The misery of war, famine, pestilence, and cruelty of man have gone on unabated since the beginning. We can’t understand.
We think of God as all-powerful and he is. There are certain things God cannot do. He cannot lie. He cannot learn. He has the ability to forget. He asks Job “were you there when I laid the heavens in place? That’s a loose paraphrase, but essentially God’s saying, “who do you think you are?” God created us and we are dependant on the air He created. We are just a wisp of air, of no more significance than a blade of grass; we have no position, no authority beyond what He gives us.
All things were created by Him and for His pleasure. He finds no pleasure in sinners. We are expendable. Without Jesus Christ, we have no value. The blood of Christ gives us value.
The beginning of knowledge is the fear of God. He says, “Don’t be afraid of those that kill your body but be afraid of Him who, after killing your body, throws your soul into Hell.” Hell? Can’t fathom that; how could anyone be sent there? How quickly we can fall into His hands.
Job’s children fell into the terrifying hands of God. Obedience is the only thing that impresses God. Accepting His provision is our only way into His presence. With Christ, we can boldly come before Him. He is looking for a bride for his son. For those who love Jesus Christ and can’t wait to see Him, they will be welcomed in to become the children of God.