Losing Everything

[dddoo7]

Daily Reading: Job 1

Job is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible. Job gives us insight into temptation and suffering that we don’t see anywhere else.

Why do righteous people suffer? Why did Job go through all these things? Did you ever look at the questions that God asks in this passage? Why is God asking questions when He is all knowing? The reality is, anytime God asks a question it is for the benefit of the one He is asking, because God knows everything already.

The first question God asks Satan is, from where do you come?” God knew where Satan had been, but asks anyway. Satan’s response is very general and not very specific, “going up and down and to and fro in the earth”. God then asks, “have you considered my servant Job?” God knew good and well that Satan had considered Job and that is where Satan had been. God is not putting Job up as a trophy for Satan to torment, but rather Satan has already been tempting and testing Job.

Satan then proceeds to take all of Jobs physical blessings and his family with the intent of getting Job to fall. Satan is sure that Job will fall...yet Satan obviously doesn’t know the mind of Job. Through all of these trials Job still stays faithful to God.

Have you ever noticed the means in which Satan tried to tempt Job in this chapter? He used foreign armies multiple times, poverty, loss, and even weather to tempt Job. Have you ever considered that horrible things that happen in our own lives may very well be more than coincidence, but may be Satan tempting us? Can Satan use evil people to tempt us? Can Satan use physical loss to tempt us? Can Satan use weather to tempt us? As a matter of fact, every struggle and difficult thing thrown our way may very well be Satan doing everything he can to get us to fall.

Job 1:1-22 (NKJV)
[1] There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.
[2] And seven sons and three daughters were born to him.
[3] Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.
[4] And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
[5] So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.
[6] Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.
[7] And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
[8] Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
[9] So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
[10] “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
[11] “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
[12] And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
[13] Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house;
[14] and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
[15] “when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
[16] While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
[17] While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
[18] While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,
[19] “and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
[20] Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
[21] And he said: “Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
[22] In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.

[orkan]

Doing right by our soul is the only way. What we have is insignificant. What we do is timeless.