Job
1 – 2
Job’s Struggles and Why! No Really WHY!?!?
Job is one of those books I love to read, the story is
amazing, but at the same time I don’t get why God allowed Satan to do that to
Job. Verse 1:1 shows the type of man Job was:
Once there was a
man from Uz by the name of Job. He was a very good man—his character
spotless, his integrity unquestioned. In fact, he so believed in God that he
sought to honor Him in all things. He deliberately avoided evil in
all of his affairs.
This is something I wish could be said
about me, but sadly know it cannot fully. I “try” but fall short in so many
things. I get “lazy” often and do not honor God in hard work. I believe this is
common for many, since the world’s distractions lead us to missing the mark on
work output. I can’t say how many times I would get trapped on the iPhone or
see others on theirs during the day.
As you can see the world has become
technologically more advanced, but that has made it easier for most to sin.
Porn I think is the biggest winner in this new world. What use to require a
trip to the seedy part of town to a very questionable business to either watch
porn or purchase videos or magazines. Today it’s as easy as a click on the
internet to get the vilest pornography delivered to you connected device. The
easiest thing to do is what Job did and AVOID evil and not try to “dance” with
it!!
In Job 1:10 the Accuser (note this translation is not Satan) makes a claim on
Job’s character:
Haven’t You
encircled him with Your very own protection, and not only him but his
entire household and all that he has? Not only this, but Your blessing
accompanies whatever his hand touches, and see how his possessions have grown. It
is easy to be so pious in the face of such prosperity.
Notice
how he says how easy it is to be “pious” in the face of danger, where this is
not the real condition of Job’s heart. This accusation was continued to be made
at Job and God just let the accuser continue to hammer on Job. That is what I
do not get!!
Verse
1:18 has the fourth messenger reveal his family is lost in rapid secession like
the previous 3:
And while the
words were still leaving that messenger’s mouth, yet a fourth
messenger arrived.
His livestock can be replaced, but his
children cannot. That is the most bothersome thing about this story. I continue
to go back to this calamity and question why God would allow this, it’s not
like they can ever be replaced.
Finally many argue Job’s friends were
questionable, but honestly how many would do what his did in verse 2:13?
Then, they sat
with him on the ground and stayed there with him for seven days and seven
nights, mourning as if he were already dead. All the while no one spoke
a single word because they saw his profound agony and grief.
Seven
days they sat and really said nothing, but were there for him. Sure we have
family that may do that, but how many close friends would? I would have a hard
time doing this with work and family obligations. I think the best I have done
are a few hours each day for a friend.
This story again
shows how much simpler this time was since that was something that people did.
Sometimes we hear of “cataclysmic” solar flares that wipe out communications
and electronics that would usher in the end times. I often wonder if that’s not
ushering in Paradise?? Think about it!!