The Book of Job allows us to see there is a spiritual dimension to our lives that we are often unaware exists. It also shatters the common belief that we are blessed/ cursed by God because we did something good/ bad. Unfortunately many people see God as a cosmic referee that throws the occasional penalty flag when we sin. Here is the truth, God’s greatness is beyond our comprehension, yet His love for us is as a father’s in its intimacy. Chapter 1 begins with an introduction to Job, “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters“. He had great wealth, and “He was the greatest man among all the people of the East“. Job was honorable, successful and respected by all that knew him. Job was not sinless, but he clearly read and followed the commandments. Next we are given a glimpse into the throne room of God in heaven. There we see the angels come before Him and we read “Satan also came with them“. Here is an important lesson; Satan is a created being, while God is the creator of all. When God asked Satan where he had been, Satan answered, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it“. 1 Peter 5:8 explains, “The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour“. In contrast, 2 Chronicles 16:9 says of God, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him“. Notice that God searches for whom He might bless and also notice that God is able to search the whole earth because He is omnipresent. We serve a great God.
As the chapter continues, God begins by bragging about Job, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil“. Satan counters that Job is only upright because God has given him so much. “You have blessed the work of his hands… But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face“. Here we see that God allows Satan to test Job, but with one stipulation, “Everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger. Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord“. Some are shocked to read that Satan has access to God, but this is why I say it is not enough to just believe God exists, we are called to worship God as Lord. According to Isaiah 14:14 refusal to worship God is what caused Satan to fall. “I will ascend into heaven… I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High“. God gave each of us free will to choose. Is He Lord of your life?
As the chapter ends, Satan took away everything Job had. In one day, Job lost his children, his flocks and his servants and most his possessions. His life was devastated. Listen to Job’s reaction. “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised“. Perhaps the most amazing thing in the chapter is how it ends, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing“. In our society today the experts claim nothing is our fault. Our bad decisions are blamed on poverty, or a politician, or a disease, or our parents. We will see how Job deals with his loss, but I will hold onto the promise in Psalm 9:10 “For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You“. Are you seeking blame, or God?