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THE THOUGHT TODAY

6/12/09
Of Job and a Bragging God
Job 1:6-8: , Job 2:1-3

It was a bet. One day when the sons of God came to present themselves before God, Satan came
with them. God asked him, where are you coming from now? He replied, “going to and fro in the
earth , walking up and down in it”. True? God asked. Well you must have seen my servant Job?
Even you will agree, there is no man as good and perfect on the earth as Job, a man who fears God
and will have nothing to do with evil. A good man. Not true Satan? Yeah. Talk God talk, Satan
said. Does he fear you for no reason? Look how you bless the man. Look at his possessions. God I
bet you, put your hand on him, take away everything and , see if he doesn't curse you to your face.
“Alright Satan”, God replied. Do all you want with him. Just don't kill him and we will see.

Satan unleashed a reign of terror on Job – a thousand oxen and asses dead, all servants except one
dead, camels gone and children dead all at once. What a tribulation! And Job, what did he say?
Well, “the Lord gave and he took back. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” What an answer from a
man who lost suddenly all that most people work for and treasure all their lives. “Blessed be the
name of the lord?” Say what? Yes. Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.

Another day, when Satan came, with the sons of God, to present himself before God, God asked
him again. “Ah Satan, where are you coming from? Satan gave him the same answer as before.
Again God asked “You see my man, Job? A good man eh? Although you did him all manner of
evil, has he sinned against me? No! Satan answered, “yeah, talk. A man will give all he has to save
his life. Touch his bone and his flesh and see if he doesn't curse you to your face”.

God let Satan loose on Job a second time. Covered with boils from head to toe, Job sat down in
ashes, seeking some relief from his physical distress. Even his wife treated him with scorn. You are
a foolish man, she said. Curse God for all the hardship you are going through and die”. Often, it is
our nearest and dearest who make us to fall victim to the tempter. Job was unmoved. “Folly
Woman! Should we receive and accept good from God and not evil? Be Quiet!” Through all of this,
Job did not sin.

When his three friends came to share his distress, they sat silently with him for seven days and
seven nights. After this, the floodgates opened, and the discourses, which over the years led many a
man and woman to marvel, began. First Eliphaz, “ you gave so much counsel to others in distress,
now you have yours you can't bear it? You ever see the innocent perish or the righteous cut off?”
Then Bildad, “God will not cast away a righteous man”. Then Zophar, “cans't thou by searching
find out God? God exacteth from thee less than thine iniquity deserves”. The arguments between
the men flew back and forth: distilling great wisdom on the nature of man and God, the reactions
of one human to another's deepest suffering and distress, and the ever constant faith Job had in
God's wisdom and right to do as he pleases. The caring frankness of a friend became an anchor and
support.

The story ends with Job restored, his glory greater than before. How I wish that you and I, like Job,
will keep God's constancy within, through thick or thin, so God can win his bet on us as faithful
mortal man

Today
Ashley R Cain
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