Job 1:1 (ESV)
Job's Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
An Example to Us All!
The book of Job was written by the Holy Spirit. We are not sure what man God used to write the book, but the Holy Spirit directed each word and each nuance. The book is about the suffering that we all go through while living in a sinful life. It is about Satan’s attack on mankind, simply to cause pain, suffering and to stir hatred toward God. Job, in the beginning of his suffering makes two declarations that are somewhat themes of the book. The first is his initial response to the tragedy of losing all his wealth and his ten children, The second is spoken to his wife, who believes he is just doomed and should just give into these circumstances and die.
Job 1:21 (ESV)
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job 2:10 (ESV)
10 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.
A very rich nugget of spiritual wealth in the book, however, is seen in the very first verse, above. The Spirit of God makes a declaration that Job is:
1. Blameless
2. Upright
3. Fears God
4. Turns from evil when he sees it.
Numbers one and two are possible because Job is steadfast in numbers three and four. When Satan comes to present himself to God, along with other angels, God repeats the opening line, as if to challenge Satan to a duel:
Job 1:8 (ESV)
8 And the LORD said to Satan, “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?”
Job gives us an example of what it means to be accepted by God and used by God. Now how God will use Job may not appeal to most of us. But, this is the type of person God wants us to be. Note how centuries later the prophet Micah would say it:
Micah 6:8 (ESV)
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
God is not keeping a secret of what He wants from us, or what pleases Him. He wants our allegiance and our devotion in love. We do this through faith in His Son. God knew, like Job, we were but frail creatures. Job was indeed a sinner. Later in the book he will begin to justify himself and accuse God of unjust behavior. He thought because he was blameless, upright and feared God that he would be free from suffering and pain. This is not the case. God wants us to be this way, despite our circumstances. God honors those who walk in this way. In the end, Job will have all restored. He will still have lost his children. That scar would not go away. But, in God’s grace, Job stays true to how he started. But, Job had a journey to complete. As do we. Note how Job ends his walk through this darkness of his life:
Job 42:1-6 (ESV)
Job's Confession and Repentance
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
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