Job, a pawn in a superhuman struggle.

 

 

January 28, 2020

 

Job 2:7-10

 

“So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.   And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”   But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak.  Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

We must remember this is the second time we see Satan showing up with the angels of God, and Scripture tells us he also came to present himself to God.  We also must not forget that God is all knowing so when He ask a question, it is not for the reason of knowledge.  Once more God asked Satan, have you considered My servant Job?  Listen to what God said about Job in verse 3b, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”  Remember no one can manipulate God against His will, Job has become a pawn in a superhuman struggle.  

 

Verse four gave Satan come back, “Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” ⁶ And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; only spare his life.”

 

I will not tell you to put yourself in Job’s place for only a foolish person would do so, but allow me to say, if you lost your family and wealth in one day and then your health, you have no understanding of what you would do. And to make it a bigger test of Job’s integrity, his wife tells him to curse God and die!  Listen to Job’s reply; “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak.  Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice