Job Intro Job 1

Job 1:1 "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."

Job: one perecuted

Uz: Probably in eastern Edom

Book of Job: largely Hebrew poetry style but also a historical document. Some refer to it as the Shakesphere of the Bible

Time: not penned down exactly.

Author: not known, some say Moses, some place it in Solomon's time

The book of Job deals with the fact of sin and an all-wise and merciful God.

Uz is mentioned in Jeremiah 25:20 along with many other nations. See also Ezekiel 14:14,20 where Job is placed in the elite company of Noah and Daniel. Also see Genesis 22:20 where mention is made of Abraham's brother who had sons named Huz and Buz.

The question or the problem confronted in Job is: Why do the righteous suffer?

v2 "And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters."

He also had: 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke oxen, 500 she asses. He is called the greatest of all the men of the east.

v6 "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them."

There is a continual discussion about who the 'sons of God' were. Some say angels, some go back to an age when angels took human women and produced offspring. It is a question I will leave for scholars.

I believe Satan has already been stripped of his glory and yet even in his 'cast down' state he still appears before God. The question must have reminded Satan of his low estate as compared to when he was clothed with the glory of God. God does not ignore him but confronts him with a questions:

v7 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

You might say Satan had his wings clipped for in both passages he was walking.

The second question:

v8 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?"

It seems that a challenge is made here. Satan is out devouring people and Job is pointed out.

Satan complains to God that he has put a hedge around Job and that is why he is like he is then lays down a challenge of his own.

v11 "But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."

God's response:

v12 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

Here we could launch into a discussion of the permissive will of God, where he allows certain things to happen for his own purpose. Things that happen to people are not always because they have committed some sin but may be for a higher purpose that we do not understand. I think in the book of Job we see an example of Satan being put in his place and shown that as he failed as an angel of God, so he will and does fail in his efforts as destroyer on earth.

We should keep in mind as we read the rest of the chapter that Job was not aware of the discussion in heaven between the LORD and Satan. He was going about his business and then the messengers came with bad news. Neither was he aware of the perimeter set down by the LORD as to what Satan could and could not do to him.

v13 "And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating, and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. v14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, ...v15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

This was the first message. Job had 500 yoke of oxen. If they plowed two in a yoke it would be 1000, a big loss for Job.

The cruelty of Satan's methods are illustrated here: he bombards Job with one thing after another and leaves a servant alive to make sure Job got the news.

The second messenger brought news of the fire that burned up the sheep with only one servant escaping to tell the news to Job.

Look at the verse: v16 "...The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep..." It would appear to be the judgment of God upon Job as the servant referred to the fire of God. Remember the object is to get Job to curse God.

Verse 17 has the Chaldeans taking the camels. Then with these tragedies fresh in Job's mind, the final blow comes:

v19 "And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

We can not battle such power with will and might. The only way to victory is through the grace of God. Job did not react in an unseemly manner. He seems to say as the LORD taught us to pray 'thy will be done' in heaven and earth.

v21 "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

v22 "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

What a story, even if we stopped after the first chapter. Such men as Noah, Daniel and Job make me feel very small and unworthy. They had a view of God that transcended the physical.

Psalm 147:11 "The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy."

Job is spoken of highly by the LORD and becomes Satan's target.


Link to previous post. Esther.