Many Bible scholars believe that the Book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. The life and trials of Job may ask and answer the most important and ultimate questions we must answer in each of our own lives. Job was called the greatest man in the East. He had seven sons and three daughters and herds of cattle, sheep, camels, donkeys, and servants. One day that all changed.
The Bible says one day the angels appeared before God and the fallen angel, Satan, appeared with them. God asked Satan a profound question: Have you considered my servant Job? God proclaimed that his servant was blameless and righteous and there was no one like him in the land. Satan, whose name means the “Accuser,” would have no part of it so he asked God a question in return. A question that was really an accusation. His famous question to God was: Does Job serve God for nothing? Then he answered his own accusation by saying that Job served God only because God blessed him and protected him from all harm. He proclaimed that if God would take away His blessings and protection from Job, Job would not only not serve Him, but he would curse God to his face! The ultimate challenge of the ages was established as God would remove His blessings and protection from Job because He believed that Job would remain faithful even during ultimate loss and sorrow and prove Satan wrong once again. Satan’s accusation was that Job was just like him, a selfish being only seeking selfgratification. If Job was indeed proven to be like Satan, then God would be revealed to be unfair. He would condemn one selfish being to Hades while allowing another selfish being into heaven. Simply, God would not be just.
So, Job lost everything: his fortune, his family, and his health. In one day, he lost everything and he sat down in pain and sorrow and covered his head in dust and ashes. Job would be plunged into a darkness like many of the servants of God and yet through his tears he would not forsake his God. Through his pain and torment, Job uttered the immortal words: The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord. Through blinding tears, he declared: Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Yes, Job would ask WHY just like we do when unimaginable pain finds our door. Like us, Job had friends that questioned his integrity and wondered if his misfortune was due to his own sin. Even his wife doubted he could survive the torment inflicted upon him and yet he clung to his God when there was nothing else to hold on to.
Job would rise from the ashes, and the Lord would restore him with twice as much as before. God was proved right. His choice of a righteous man over a selfish devil would show that God was indeed just and fair. Job’s place in eternity was sealed, and so was Satan’s. God WINS.
