Job 1

There are those that believe that the Book of Job is simply a story.  That the events of Job never really happened.  However, I have been taught and understood that these are actual events.  Whether one believes that the Book of Job is a story or an actual event, it still has much to say to us.

The Book of Job starts with an appraisal of Job’s godly characteristics.  Not only was he faithful to God, Job was a mature follower who walked in righteousness.  Job would take every opportunity to intercede for his children.  He had tremendous wealth and it seemed as if everything was going well for him.  However, it was all about to change, when God asked Satan, “have you considered my servant Job”.  It would be foolhardy on our part to think that God did not know the answer to His question.  Of course God knew that Satan had considered Job and decided otherwise.  Satan was not going to fool with Job, it would not be profitable for him.  In addition, God was well aware of how Job would react to an attack by Satan.  Furthermore, if God had thought Job was worthy of chastisement, He would not have commissioned Satan to accomplish this.  By the end of the chapter, Job will have lost all his children and wealth.  Yet, Job maintains his allegiance to God and worships the Almighty.

Job 1:1-3

¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. ³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

The very first thing stated about Job is that he was perfect, upright, feared God and eschewed evil.  As the book unfolds, this description will be stated twice by God.  This should be sufficient to convince the reader that Job was a man of righteousness, who lived a life walking in the light of God.  We should look to Job as a model; however, very few do today.  Mostly people look for the sin.  One should believe God’s evaluation as opposed to the many critics in the book and those that follow in history.  In the future to come, when we are all before God, many of us will pale in comparison to Job.

We should seriously consider what follows next, Job 1:4-5.

⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job never assumed that all was well with his children.  Job was proactive in his approach.  Not knowing what may have occurred, but realizing that it was always a possibility that his children may have sinned or cursed God; Job would offer burnt sacrifices to God.  Too often, parents assume that all is well until they hear otherwise.  When in reality all is not well with their children.  Often children are doing the very things, the parents do not want them to do.  Not because they are bad children or that the parents did not raise them properly; it is because the influences of the world are much stronger than many of us realize.  And once our children get a taste of the world, they start to enjoy it.  As parents, there are enough problems to deal with, why would one assume their children are acting contrary.  However, it seems as if every generation has gone astray.

Even Job who had built a hedge of protection in his life, continued to intercede for his children.  He took every opportunity, because he knew he could not be with them all the time.  His best hope was for God to answer his prayer.

What Job did is very similar to what God did.  God knew that Adam would sin even before Adam sinned.  God had a plan to redeem mankind before Adam even had a chance to disobey God.  It would be naive to think otherwise.  God knew He would have to intercede on our behalf.

The plot starts to thicken when Satan shows up in heaven, Job 1:6.

⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

There are those that assume after the events of the garden in Genesis 3, Satan did not have access to heaven.  However, here in Job 1, Satan is speaking with God in heaven.  As I stated earlier, my understanding is that these events actually occurred; as such, Satan had access to heaven at this time.  Truthfully, outside of conjecture, there is no evidence in the Bible that Satan was banished from heaven at this time.  Eventually, Satan’s access to heaven will be severely limited, but that is not a subject of this book.

Job 1:7

⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Satan was making his rounds.  He was looking for someone to target.  It is next that God clearly stated His appraisal of Job.  But before I get to that, it is important to establish why Satan did not previously go after Job.

When Satan stated that he had gone to and fro and up and down; it should bring to mind 1 Peter 5:8.

⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

This is exactly what Satan does.  Satan, like the lion, is traveling about looking for prey.  Satan, like the lion, is searching for the weak ones, he can stalk and ambush.  These are easier to capture.  When a lion kills their prey, they will rip at the animal’s flesh.  And just like the lion, Satan goes after the flesh.  Similarly, Satan is looking for the immature believer, the one that is walking in the flesh as opposed walking in the spirit.  This is why the believer is admonished in Romans 13:14:

¹⁴But put ye on the Lord Yeshua Messiah, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

A believer should keep this in mind.  Job walked upright, he was not what would be considered a fleshy person or carnal believer.  Job was upright and avoided evil.  As such, he was not an easy target for Satan.  Satan had little interest in Job, because of Job’s walk.

Job 1:8 is a verse that one needs to keep firmly planted in their mind, because here God stated His opinion of Job.  Since it is coming from God, it is not just an opinion, it is the truth.  Very few individuals fit this description.  God will repeat similar words in Job 2.

Job 1:8

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job is considered by God to be a perfect and upright man.  Job feared God and avoided evil.  It essentially means that Job lived a sanctified life.  Not many of our modern day religious personalities walk in the fashion of Job.  It is doubtful, with a few exceptions, that a similar appraisal could be said of many throughout history.

Further, the Hebrew brings out that Job was not lacking in moral innocence or integrity.  Job was morally and ethically pure.  Job turned from evil.  This is God’s assessment of Job.  This is the second time that this assessment is assigned to Job.  It is an assessment a believer should hope to achieve.  Yet throughout history many have less than positive things to say about Job.  The truth is our own opinion is not important, it is God’s opinion that matters.  And God clearly stated that Job was a perfect and upright man.  Job reverenced God and he lived a sanctified life.  This should be a believer’s evaluation of Job, it should be in agreement with God.

Job 1:9

⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

Satan is taking advantage of the situation.  Satan is attempting to bring doubt into the conversations.  Not that God would question Job’s motives, but those who read the book might.  Satan wants to mar Job’s character.  He wants us to think that Job only follows God for profit rather than because it is the right thing to do.  Satan never stated it, but he is attempting to subtly lead one to believe that Job fears God because God blesses Job.  Satan makes it appear as if Job’s motives were purely selfish.  Unfortunately, people have a tendency to align with Satan more than with God’s estimation of Job.  Job’s own actions and words will prove Satan wrong.  However for many, the defamation of Job’s character is believed.

Further, what Satan is attempting to do is undermine God’s appraisal of Job.  In a way, Satan is accusing God of being naive or possibly selfish in His appraisal of Job.  However, Satan knows that God is not naive at all.  So why would he even take this approach?  It is because he knows how naive people can be.  Most people believe his lies, Satan knows this.  What he has done has caused confusion among others and brought reproach to Job.

One might wonder, if this is true, why would God allow this to happen?  First of all God does not argue with a fool.  Nowhere in the Bible is there an argument between God and Satan.  God laid out a plan and is following that plan.  God has not and will not argue with Satan.  God does not use mere words to prove His point, God does it through action.  Additionally, God knows what Satan is up to.  And Satan knows that God know this.  Unfortunately, Satan is like the attorney that makes false statements knowing he will be overruled.  He is planting seeds to affect the unknowing listener.  Satan knows if enough seeds are planted, those who fail to fully study the Book of Job will not understand what has really happened.

But what was it that Job received, that Satan claims is the reason why Job fears God?  Because Satan is right, God does do something for Job.  This is important, because many miss this point and its impact.  Yet it is something many desire.  They even pray for it, but prayer alone is insufficient.

For the moment, set aside Job’s motive for his obedience, because Satan is absolutely wrong about that.  What was it that Job received from God?  Could it be money, children, lots of servants or even respect of others?  It was none of these specific things.  It is intangible in that one cannot see it or touch it.  However, if one has it, it will effect every area of their life.  It helps one to have the peace that surpasses all understanding through all life’s situations.  Listen to what Satan stated in Job 1:10

¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Satan calls it the hedge.  It protected everything Job had and it increased the work of Job’s hands.  It is available for everyone, but it does not come free.  Remember what God asked Satan in Job 1:8.

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

One cannot possibly believe that God did not know that Job had a hedge.  The reader should realize that God knew that Job was protected.  It was God, that established the spiritual law that put the hedge around Job.  The hedge did not just happen, it was there for a reason.  A reason that escapes most people.  It would be reasonable to assume; therefore, that God knew that Job could withstand the devil.  And that is why God asked Satan, “have you considered my servant Job”.

Before I go too far, I want to explore this hedge.  This is important for two reasons.  It will give further insight into Job’s character.  Further, a hedge is available and would be beneficial for those who are willing to do what is necessary to erect a hedge.

First of all, God does not simply place a hedge around someone because they are a Christian.  Remember, Job was not a Christian, he was not even an Israelite.  God provides a hedge for a much different reason.  When God and Satan were speaking, God knew that without the hedge Job would be powerless against the devil.  However with the hedge, Job could withstand just about anything the devil could place in his path.

A key to understanding the concept of the hedge is contained in Job 1:8.

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job was not just another believer out there that wanted riches and peace.  Job was called a servant, a laborer of God by God Himself.  A servant in Biblical times would be better equated to what is known as a bond servant or your basic slave.  It is someone whose will was subverted to that of the master.  In the case of Job and God, Job is a willing servant and God is a much better master than any earthly master.  God is a master with benefits.

In the Greek Scriptures, the New Testament, Yeshua speaks of the hedge.  However this is one of those cases, where few realize what He is speaking about.  This is mostly because they are not taught to look for this.  As such, it is elusive, yet it is right there for everyone to find.  In Luke 13, Yeshua is being questioned, yet His answer seems almost vague.  That is because there is more to His answer than He provides, Luke 13:1.

¹There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

They were speaking to Yeshua about a local situation that had recently occurred.  In many ways, the situation they are talking about is not much different than the disasters of today.  Yeshua answered their question with a question.  He is attempting to get them to think beyond their normal understanding.  Basically, Yeshua wants them to think, rather than for Him to just explain, Luke 13:2.

²And Yeshua answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Back then as today, people often have this idea that bad things happen to non-believers and good things happen to believers.  Later in the book of Job, this becomes an issue.  However, Yeshua disputes that concept in Matthew 5:45.

⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Good things happen to both the evil and the good.  These particular events in Matthew 5 might be classified as random events.  However, what Yeshua concluded in Luke 13 can help to protect one from the undesirable random occurrences in everyday life.  That is what the hedge does for the person that willingly does what is required to build it.

In Luke 13:2, Yeshua is asking if these people that were killed were necessarily bad people.  What Yeshua stated next should cause them to ask another question, but they do not ask it, Luke 13:3.

³I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Yeshua stated that those who died were not necessarily the worst sinners.  It actually opens up the possibility that some may have been good.  However, Yeshua stated if one does not repent, they could likewise perish.  One could possibly perish in an obscure and random occurrence.  Throughout history and even today, this has occurred.  Or am I to think that those that perished on 9-11 in the World Trade Center were sinners above all who lived in New York City?

Yeshua gives another example in Luke 13:4.

⁴Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

Again Yeshua asks a rhetorical question.  The answer is obviously no, they were not the worst sinners.  Yeshua then repeats an earlier statement in Luke 13:5.

⁵I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

This is the second time, Yeshua tells those present and the reader that if they do not repent, a similar occurrence could happen to them.

The question one should be asking is what does Yeshua mean by repent?  If one is a born-again believer, they might believe that they have repented.  Yet I know plenty of believers that have bad things happen to them.  Or am I to think that they are not born-again believers and that is why bad things happen to them?  Or do they need to keep going to the altar to renew their salvation at their church every week?  Unfortunately that does not seem to help many avoid these somewhat random occurrences in life.

Another possibility may be that there is a depth to repentance that the believer needs to understand.  Repentance, as defined in the Bible and discussed in Luke 13, is as elusive as the hedge is for many.  Repentance is not what many assume it to be, it is more than spiritual salvation or being born-again.

If one were to study salvation, one might conclude that salvation is not about repentance.  Salvation is more of a choice or a doorway to the Kingdom of Heaven.  As in John 3:15-16.

¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Salvation is a choice to believe.  It does not state repentance anywhere in the above verses.

The unfortunate part of this discussion is that many people’s concept of repentance aligns with how a four year-old would repent.  When they are caught before you can say anything, they immediately state, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry”.  They are sorry, sorry they got caught.  Although, I call it the four year-old’s repentance, many times it is the adult who repents likes this.  That is, until they are spiritually mature.

Others define repentance as a deep sorrow for committing sin.  But in this type of repentance and that of the four year-old, after it is all over not much has changed.

Yet both the Hebrew and Greek bring out a much different meaning.  Repentance means to turn away from sin and turn towards God.  It is to change one’s mind and purpose.  When one repents, it means they are willing to change their mind and the purpose of their life resulting in a new direction.  It is to completely turn from the sin towards God, never to repeat the sin again.  It means one never returns to their former ways again.

Unfortunately, too many limit repentance to coming into the faith and misunderstand that it is a continual process.

Now this is how it plays into the story of Job.  Job had a hedge, as such he was protected from random occurrences.  Therefore, he would have had to be in a state of continual repentance.  This means that he was a faithful servant of God, mature with a disdain for evil.  This is exactly what God stated about Job.  As the reader continues and the events unfold, it should become apparent that Job is consistent in his approach to God.  Job was in a continuous state of repentance, he did not turn from God.  Whether Job was wealthy or not, he still worshipped God.

Although Job has this hedge of protection; Satan presents a challenge in Job 1:11.

¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Satan claims that if God would take all Job had, Job would curse God.

What is occurring here is very important.  If one is to understand what transpires in the remainder of the Book of Job, one must understand the motives and the insight of God and Satan.  God knew Job, God knew whether Job would curse Him.  God knows the beginning from the end.  He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts.  God knew from the beginning what He was doing.

Satan on the other hand is no fool as many try to make him out to be.  Satan knew exactly what he was doing.  Satan knew that God would not accept a challenge where  He would ultimately be proven wrong.  Therefore, one must conclude that Job did not at anytime curse God.  If he did, that would make God fallible.  God is not fallible, He is all knowing and perfect.

Further, this word “curse” has the meaning “to commit treason”.  Treason brings to mind a serious offense.  However, it can be equated with betrayal on various levels.  Disloyalty of the slightest amount would be treason.  So when God allowed Satan to have his way with Job, God knew that Job would remain loyal in the minutest point.  God knew this because He is God and He knows all.  Any other conclusion would make God imperfect and should cause us to question everything about God.  However, that is not the case.

Knowing all this, what was Satan trying to accomplish?  Satan was doing the same thing he always did.  He was not after Job, he saw an opportunity to cause havoc.  Human nature being what it is, Satan knew that he could cause confusion among the masses.  Then in the near future and even thousands of years later, uninformed individuals would accuse Job of heinous sins.  They would thereby disregard the real purpose of the book and miss the spiritual lessons embedded in the book.  Because of what Satan accomplished in the Book of Job, people have concocted various reason for Job’s suffering.  Often they based their conclusions on what happened to Job, rather than understanding the conflict between God and Satan.

One might wonder how Satan would know this.  He knew, because it was not the first time he had done this.  As unfortunate as it is, humans seems to make the same mistakes over and over again.  We are just not as smart as we like to think we are.  We need to be under God’s hedge or the devil will have his way with us.

Now why would God allow this?  Truthfully many do not even read the Bible let alone study it.  God stated in Isaiah 66:2.

²For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

God is looking for those that would take time to learn the lesson, not those that want to be spoon-feed and drink watered-down milk.  It is a book that tests our understanding of God.  Actually one does not need to study very hard to reach the basic conclusions of the Book of Job.  They need to have a realistic view of God and His character, from there the conclusion easily follows.

One more thing, who was the true perpetrator of Job’s suffering?  Most would agree that it was Satan, but was it really Satan’s idea?  Remember it was God who initially spoke of Job.  Although Satan knew of Job, he did not bother with him because of the hedge God put around Job.  It was God that offered up Job from the beginning.  God from the beginning conceived this plan and Satan played into God’s hands.

This may be hard to accept that God would put someone through suffering.  However, was it not God who caused the suffering of Yeshua?  Consider, if it was Satan’s idea, did Satan fool God by pulling a fast one on God?  If it was Satan’s idea, how did he get God to mention Job’s name?  The only real logical choice is, God planned this from the beginning.  God had a reason well beyond just another book.  The Book of Job teaches us lessons that we could never learn on our own.  One of the more important lessons is outside of the hedge of God, we are defenseless against Satan.  Only when God protects us are we safe.  To have the ultimate hedge requires us to be like Job, a mature follower of God that withdraws from evil.  Anything less would result in a hedge that provides less protection and therefore, possibly be subject to random occurrences of life.

When you think about Job, think about another individual, Paul the apostle.  Paul is considered to be a righteous man by most believers, he stated of his life in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

²³Are they ministers of Messiah? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. ²⁴Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ²⁵Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

A lot of bad things happened to Paul.  Few would consider Paul’s suffering to be a result of a particular sin.  Even though Paul initially opposed Christianity, few would consider Paul to be similar to Job.  Few would declare that God was just trying to beat pride out of Paul.  In the study of the Bible, it is important that one has a consistent approach.

Carefully read Job 1:12.

¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Before Satan could do anything to Job, God had to allow it to occur.  What is being demonstrated here is if one has a hedge around them, Satan cannot touch that individual.  That is, unless God allows it to occur.  Satan is powerless when one is in a continuous state of repentance.  Another way of stating this is, if one is in the spirit walking in God’s ways their hedge will be intact.  The reason why some believers have an inadequate hedge is because they lack the understanding of how to walk in God’s ways.

God gave permission for Satan to afflict Job.  In one day, Job lost his children, and all his livestock.  It is quite revealing how Job responds.  In my lifetime, I have meet very few struck with such a tremendous loss or even a minor loss, who respond as Job did.

Job 1:13-19

¹³And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁴And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: ¹⁵And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁶While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁷While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. ¹⁸While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: ¹⁹And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

In one day, all this transpired.  All of Job’s children were killed and he lost all his wealth.  It is unlikely, that insurance was going to cover Job’s losses.  It was gone and it was gone forever.  How would most people react if this happen to them?  How would you react if this happen to you?  How have you reacted in the past?  Would you fall prey to the devil and fulfill Satan’s words of Job 1:11?

¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Would you curse God?  Would you think that Christianity is a sham that nothing good ever happens to you?  Would you feel like God does not love you?  Just when you think you have this figured out, do you assume nothing really works for you?  The truth is, if it has not occurred to an individual, one does not know how they will respond.  Our hope should be that we would respond like Job in Job 1:20-22.

²⁰Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, ²¹And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. ²²In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

After all that happened, Job worshipped God.  Job submitted to God’s authority and will.  Job never cursed God because as God stated in Job 1:8:

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job was a servant of God, a bond servant.  Job was sold out to God.  Satan was wrong.  Job was not your typical follower.  It was not God’s hand that Job desired.  Job was not looking for a handout.  Job was steadfast in his attitude and continuously walked towards God.  This is why Job had the hedge, because above all things Job sought after God’s face, Psalm 27:8.

⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Paul similarly writes in Philippians 4:11-13:

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.

Paul, like Job, was not looking to be served.  Paul, similar to Job, was satisfied knowing that he was serving God.

Job 1 starts out with a simple conversation and ends up in disaster for Job.  So far Satan is wrong, Job did not curse God.  Job did the exact opposite, he worshiped God. This is a pivotal chapter.  If one does not understand what transpired here, it makes it difficult to understand the rest of the Book of Job.

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