Job – The Beginning

The story begins in the land of Uz (not Oz, and there isn’t a wizard…) where a man name Job lives. He has ten kids (seven of them boys!) and owns 8,300 animals and a “large number” of servants. Let’s face it – Job was loaded. He was wealthy, had land, and was considered the greatest man among all the people of the East. He was the Bill Gates of Uz and he lived life in luxury. His sons had feasts and invited their sisters to eat and drink and I bet those parties were tons of fun!! Here’s the thing about Job though. He had all this stuff, but he had something way more important – a relationship with God.

Job is described as being “blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil;” and these parties that happened? When they were over he sent his kids off to be purified and early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for them “just in case.” Scripture doesn’t specify if Job was at these parties, but he got up early the day after to make sure that they were right before God and went out of his way to set a godly example for them. Remember though, this is just the start of the story – not everything stays all roses and fun.

-Satan enters-
God: Where did you come from?
Satan: I’ve been hanging around the world, sight-seeing and staying out of trouble *snicker*
God: Oh! Did you see my servant Job? He rocks! He is blameless and upright and he shuns you..err….evil!
Satan: Of course he’s that way. You’ve given him everything and blessed his socks off. I betcha if you took it all away, he’d curse you to your face.
God: It’s a bet. Everything he has is in your hands, but don’t touch him (or there will be trouble).
-Satan leaves-

Did you catch that (don’t mind the liberties, it’s just my modernization)? Satan and God have made a little wager on Job and we’re going to see what happens; Job’s life is about to turned upside-down in a crazy way. One day when Job’s kids are feasting and drinking a messenger came and told Job that Sabeans attacked and carried off the oxen and donkeys and killed all the servants (I’m the only one who escaped)! While he was speaking another rushed in a told him fire from heaven came and killed all the sheep and servants (I’m the only one who escaped)! While HE was speaking another came and said the Chaldeans took all the camels and killed all the servants (except me, I escaped)! This happened one more time (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?) This time the servant said that a big wind came in from the desert and collapsed the house that all of his kids were partying in (and I’m the only one who made it out)!

I’m not making this stuff up! In one foul swoop, Job lost a ton of animals, servants, and his kids (he does have four servants left, however). Does this make Job curse God? Nope. “Wait” you’re thinking, “how can he not scream at God for all this?” Well, he doesn’t. Do you want to know what he does? He shaves his head, tears his robes and falls to the ground…cursing? NO!!!! HE STINKING WORSHIPS!!! He worships God and says “the Lord gives and takes away, may the name of the Lord be praised!”

Go ahead and begin to breath again. Pick up your jaw from the floor. Job recognizes that God is in charge of everything and whatever He wants to do is fine. Job just lost it all (well, most…) but he doesn’t blame God. Round 1 goes to Job and God!