thin king

Good morning,

The Story of Job
(From riches to rags to double riches)

A man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless and upright; one who feared God and turned away from evil. He had seven sons, three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants. He was the greatest of all the people of the east. His sons and daughters feasted every day. Habitually daily, Job offered a burnt offering to God for each of his sons, and he sanctified them.

When Satan appeared before God, God told him about Job's faithfulness and virtues. Satan replied that it was because God had given Job aplenty, and that Job would turn against God without all these. God gave Satan a free hand except to harm Job.

So, the Sabe'ans, fire from heaven, the Chalde'ans, and a great wind from the wilderness, came and plundered and destroyed all Job's possessions. Job rent his robe, shaved his head, fell upon the ground, and worshipped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked shall I return; the LORD gave and the LORD took away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

Again, when Satan appeared before God, God told him that Job had remained faithful despite what Satan had wrought against him. Satan answered that Skin for skin a man would save himself with all he had, but if his flesh and bone was afflicted, he would curse God. Again, God gave Satan a free hand, except to kill Job.

Then Job was afflicted with loathsome sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. When his wife questioned his continual faithfulness to God he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not also receive evil?"

Job's three friends came, each from his own place, Eli'phaz the Te'manite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Na'amathite to condole and comfort him. They wept and sat with him on the ground for seven days and nights, saying nothing, for his suffering was very great.

When Job opened his mouth he cursed the day of his birth.

Then Job went into a very long discourse with these three friends. What they talked about is very wide, deep and diverse, too lengthy to summarise. What they said to each other is as follows.

While they advised Job to have strength and wisdom in his own case, that God punished the wicked and rewarded the good accordingly, and told him that no man could be righteous before God, and not to be angry with God, Job complained that God had punished him after giving him everything and made him a laughing stock before everything, that God had forsaken him and let him be destroyed utterly, and that he wished to be dead. He said that he would face God if he could find God. He maintained that he had been righteous and would continued to be righteous as before, saying, "Wisdom knows the fear of the Lord and to depart from evil".

So the three men kept quiet because Job was righteous in his own eyes.

Then Eli'hu, the son of Bar'achel the Buzite, the youngest and who had held his silence, spoke his anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God, and at Job's three friends because they had no answer to rebut Job. Eli'hu said that God is almighty, He has his way of making man understand what is right. He said God is just, who judges man according to his deeds. He chided Job for claiming to be so righteous and sinned doubly. He told Job about what God can do, and asked Job what did he know about anything.

Then, out of the whirlwind, the LORD said to Job, "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer." Job answered, "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee? I have spoken once, I will not answer, twice."

Then the LORD said to Job, "Can Job do what God has done, as to want to contend with God." Job answered that he had spoken out of ignorance, because he only knew God through his ears. But now, by his eyes, he despised what he had said, and repented in dust and ashes.

Later, the LORD said to Eli'phaz, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Therefore take seven bulls and seven rams to Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly." So, Eli'phaz, Bildad and Zophar went and did what the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer for his friends.

Then the LORD restored the fortunes of Job. All his brothers and sisters, and all those who had known him before, came and sympathised with him and comforted him; and each gave him money and a ring of gold.

The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. God gave Job twice as much as he had before. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. He had again seven sons and three daughters, named in order of birth Jemi'mah, Kezi'ah, and Ker'en-hap'puch; and there were no women as fair as Job's daughters; and Job gave them inheritance among their brothers.

Job lived a hundred and forty years. He saw his sons, his grandsons, and great grandsons. And Job died an old man, full of days.

Have a nice day.
Ronald