The book of job is ultimately about the value of god in the midst of pain and suffering. Not much is known about job based on the masoretic text of the jewish bible. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. God brags to satan about job s virtue, but satan contends that job is only righteous because god has favored him generously. Even though god is not the author of evil, much good comes from evil, so its not surprising that god allowed satan to test job, and so the lord said to satan, behold, all that he has is in your hand. Job 1 gnt satan tests job there was a man named bible. From the start we know there are limits to jobs trial, and we know what those limits are. It is not rocket science but as with many other things, this verse is contorted from something simple into something complex so that it v can be used to justify other incredible theories elsewhere in the bible. God boasts to satan about jobs goodness, but satan argues that job is only good because god has. Satan, the thief, has come to kill, steal, and destroy john 10. The prose prologue chapters one and two and the epilogue 42.
God permits satan to abuse job to experiment with this brazen claim, but he forbids satan to take job s life in the manner. He is the serpent, the tempter of christ matthew 4. Then satan answered the l ord and said, from roaming about on the earth and walking around on it. True to one of his modes of operation, he accuses job before god. Book of job simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was. The book is essential to the overall theme of the bible. Job is the central figure of the book of job in the bible. This is the jealousies of men that contradict the truth of god that job was an upright man, job 1. If so then this direct conversation with god could lead to learning about the inner workings of the job story. Job 1, new international version niv the bible app. But satan the accuser comes before the lord, and god allows him to test job.
Job explores the difficult question of gods relationship to human suffering, and invites us to trust gods wisdom and character. When we begin reading the book of job we learn that, while god allowed satan to afflict job, he set limits beyond which the devil could not pass. Satan challenges god that, if given permission to punish the man, job will turn and curse god. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a. It begins with an introduction to jobs characterhe is described as. Why did god allow satan to harm jobs health and wealth. The meaning of the book of job is found in gods and satans conversation in heaven. God brags to satan about jobs virtue, but satan contends that job is only righteous because god has favored him generously. Remember that the book of job quotes jobs friends who bear a false testimony, so in. When god calls up the name of job before the accuser and testifies to his righteousness this creature in whom god takes special delight satan attempts with one crafty thrust both to assail god s beloved and to show up god as a fool. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in god s sight. Dec 18, 2019 job is believed to have been written by moses. Job prays for god s forgiveness of them and god accepts his prayer.
King james bible and the lord said unto satan, whence comest thou. The prologue introduces us to the characters and summarizes the theme of the book. However, in jewish biblical literature satan is not seen a fallen angel or some rebel. Years later, in the book of the revelation, the apostle john wrote about a future day when satan will be kicked out. To make matters worse, job never finds out why he was afflicted in the first place. He is blameless and upright, constantly mindful to live in a righteous manner job 1. Rather, it begins with a typical day in the divine oval office, and the topic of god s just operation of the cosmos is put on the table. Job 1, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. In it, satan is a member of gods divine court who walks the earth looking for sin and reports back to god. Jan 02, 2020 since god validates elihus points 3841, the adversarial tone in gods answer to job makes even more sense. He was the greatest man among all the people of the east. Satan was not in heaven before the throne of god as can be seen later in the book of job, but god engaging satan on earth. A surface reading of the book of job usually evokes a reaction such as why is god making a bet with the devil.
This to me is the overriding teaching of the book of job. The book of job begins by introducing us to its three most significant characters. Job was blameless, meaning no sin was found in him. When god first unleashes satan on job, he tells him that he must not damage the man physically. This is kiddylevel theology, yet many grownups dont get it. They stop reading at verse six and conclude that god robbed job and. Job prays for gods forgiveness of them and god accepts his prayer. Trend of the relationship between god and satan in the bible. The doctrine of satan in job the bible doesnt give us a great deal of information about the devil. God rebukes jobs three friends and orders them to make a sacrifice. Christian standard bible the lord asked satan, where have you come from. The book of job is one of the longest books in the bible, at 42 chapters. God rebukes job s three friends and orders them to make a sacrifice.
Even though satan did these things to job, job did not curse god like satan wanted job to do. The battle between god and satan in the book of job adventist. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was basically an argument between god and satan. In this bible story from the book of job, there is a wealthy man named job residing in an area called uz with his extended family and vast flocks. The hebrew book of job is part of ketuvim writings of the jewish bible. Jobs wife is the most controversial character in the book. In a conversation with god, satan suggests that job would turn away from god if he. Satan targets job because of his righteousness and favour with god and wishes to turn job against god.
While satan is rebellious toward god and an adversary of job, the suffering god imposed ultimately resulted in a deepening of jobs faith and brought greater blessings to job. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. From roaming through the earth, satan answered him, and walking around on it. With regard to both biblical texts, gods speech in the book of job and.
This would make sense since the bible says moses spoke with god face to face. Satan says that job will curse god if he makes job sick, which he did. Misfortune befalls job, and, in three cycles of speeches, his three friends give the explanation that this must be punishment from god for his sins, and they urge him to repent. The book of job is one of the literary masterpieces of all time, and provides a profound discussion on the suffering of a just man.
The book of job opens with a scene in the heavenly throne room where satan meets with the lord. We know this because the next verse says, satan afflicted job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head job 2. Satan dares god that, if given the approval to inflict suffering, job will change and curse god. The book of job in the hebrew bible was crafted to address human suffering and why bad things happen to good people. At the end of the book, god gives job twice as much wealth as he had before, along with seven sons and three daughters. In the latter sense, a solemn thought is suggested by it to those who join in the public worship of god. God brags to satan about jobs virtue, but satan contends that job is only righteous because.
Job 1 niv prologue in the land of uz there bible gateway. God allows satan to torment job to test this bold claim, but he. Job is a wealthy man living in a land called uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He appears in the first book of the bible genesis 3, but we only know that it is he from the last book of the bible rev. The book of job is a very interesting book in the bible. Job chapters 1 and 2, part of the bibles oldest book, say that satan has access to heaven. It would be hard to believe god dedicated so much of the. The central figure in the book of job, job s intense suffering supplies the framework for the primary theme of the book, which deals with the role of suffering in the life of a believer. The book of job is ancient israelite wisdom literature, and its purpose isnt to teach us about how satan and god make bets and leave innocent peoples fates hanging in the balance. The characters in the book of job consist of job, his wife, his three friends bildad, eliphaz, and zophar, a man named elihu, god, and angels one of whom is named satan. The book begins with the description of job as a just and upright man. In the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job.
In other words, the satan claims that job puts his faith in god only. This is an obvious reference to the angels, and we know that satan is an angel even though a fallen one. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict. The adversary satan insinuates himself among the angels of gods court and argues that jobs virtue is not genuine. Satan tests job there was a man named job, living in the land of uz, who worshiped god and was faithful to him. Then satan answered the lord, and said, from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. At the same time, it also asks the question we rarely. How could satan access heaven in the books of job and the. However, the book of job shows that god always has a good purpose behind it and that he uses suffering and pain to bless and build up his servants.
In later biblical traditions this character will be developed as the devil gk. Remember that the book of job quotes job s friends who bear a false testimony, so in those sections what they say is not divinely inspired. Job is described as an upright man who follows gods commands, and is blameless in gods eyes. He is blameless and upright, always careful to avoid doing evil 1. There is no easy answer, and, of course, the book does not mean to be an. The word blameless doesnt mean sinless, but rather, that he had a good standing in the eyes of. God not only wagered satan over the outcome of jobs trials, but he actually provoked the bet job 12. Analysis this is a key passage for setting the stage for all that follows. Satans role in the book of job is a kind of microcosm, illustrating the place satan plays in the overall plan of god. Set in uz, an obscure land far from israel, during an unknown time period, the book of job focuses on questions about gods justice and why good people suffer. He is blameless and upright, constantly mindful to live in a righteous manner. Aug 29, 2018 in this bible story from the book of job, there is a wealthy man named job residing in an area called uz with his extended family and vast flocks. Job, a pious and blameless man, is perfectly happy and contented. Satan, who at this point in the bible is not the agent of all evil but a sort of officer of god.
God removes jobs protection, and gives permission to the. Some theologians claim god gives no answers within this book. The book of job clearly brings out the limitations of satans power. For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing god and turning away from evil.
The book of job god did not give satan power biblebro. When scripture says that satan stood before god in job chapters 1 and 2, this is not the third heaven as commonly assumed. The accuser hebrew, hasatan is not satan, the devil, but an angel whose job it is to identify people disloyal to god. One day, satan the adversary appears before god in heaven. Thomas explores the difficulty of job s suffering, satan s involvement, and god s sovereignty. Job is one of the most famous people in scripture, yet he is rarely listed as a favorite bible character. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict him. Where does the communication between god and satan take place. The story recounted in chapters 1 and 2 makes us privy to actual conversations between god and satan.
The book of job is a book in the ketuvim writings section of the hebrew bible tanakh, and. Like before, god talked about how good his servant job is. Rather, it begins with a typical day in the divine oval office, and the topic of gods just operation of the cosmos is put on the table. Job 1 kjv there was a man in the land of uz, bible gateway.
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