Job is described as a great and godly man who has been greatly blessed by God. He is a man of feeling who loves his family and serves as their patriarch and priest.
Satan appears in the courtroom of heaven when God brings up the subject of Job. Satan is not impressed. Job only serves God for the stuff he gets out of the relationship. He is accusing Job. He is saying that Job’s religion is entirely and mercenary affair and that if the blessings are removed, Job will cease serving God.
In order to prove that Job’s faith is real, he allows Satan to take away his earthly blessings. Job passes the test when upon hearing of the loss of all of his children and livestock, he blesses the name of God.
Satan tells God to take of the gloves and let him strike Job’s body and he will curse God to His face. Once more, God reveals his trust in Job and allows the accuser to afflict Job with horrible sores all over his body. Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die, but Job holds fast to his integrity and asks rhetorically, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job’s three friends arrive. Though they will say things in the days to come that are rather disturbing. It is worth pointing out that they began very well. They came to him when others were leaving him. They came out of the desire to comfort their friend. When they saw him they wept with him. And, when they did say some hard things, they said it to his face, not behind his back.
Questions to Ponder:
- Can material blessings be a sign of God’s favor?
- Does the loss of material well being indicate God’s disfavor?
- What does the word Satan mean?
- How does this story show the significance of the name Satan?
- What was Satan doing on earth?
- What was Satan doing in Heaven?
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