Job was a great man of high integrity who
feared God and stayed away from evil. He had
seven sons and three daughters. He was a rich
man with many servants. His livestock included
a large number of sheep, camels, oxen, and
donkeys.
One day, Satan went to the Lord when all of
the angels were there. The Lord said, “So where
have you been?”
“Oh, walking here and there around the earth.
The Lord said, “Have you noticed my servant
Job? There is no one else on earth like him. He
has high integrity and stays away from evil.”
Satan said, “Well, of course he does. He’s
found that being righteous is a good deal. You
protect him and everything he owns. You bless
him and give him whatever he wants. But try
taking away all his possessions. Then watch
what happens. He’ll curse you to your face.”
The Lord said, “We’ll see. I give you
permission to take everything he owns, but you
can’t touch him personally.”
Soon afterwards, a servant ran up to Job and
said, “Some thugs came and took all your oxen
and donkeys. They tried to kill all the servants,
and only I escaped. I immediately came to tell
you what happened.”
While he was still talking, another servant ran
up and said, “A huge storm blew in. Lightning
struck and killed all your sheep and servants.
Only I lived through it, so I ran here to tell you
what happened.”
While he was still talking, another servant ran
up. “An army came and took all your camels and
killed the servants. I escaped and came to tell
you what happened.”
While he was still talking, another servant
ran up. “Your sons and daughters were eating
together, when suddenly a tornado hit the house
and they all died. I’m the only one to live through
it. So I came here to tell you what happened.”
Job fell down with grief. He tore his clothes
and shaved his head. He then bowed his head
and said, “I came into this world naked. I’ll leave
this life naked. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes
away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In spite of all
that happened, Job didn’t sin or blame God.
Once again, Satan went to the Lord when
all of the angels were there. The Lord said, “So
where have you been?”
“Oh, walking here and there around the earth.
The Lord said, “Have you noticed my servant
Job? There is no one else on earth like him. He
has high integrity and stays away from evil, even
after I permitted you, without any reason, to
destroy all he had?”
“Oh, but you didn’t allow me to touch his
skin. A man will do anything to save his life. Hit
his flesh and bones, and he will curse you to
your face.”
The Lord said, “We’ll see. I give you permission
to strike him, but you can’t take his life.”
Soon afterwards, Job was covered with boils,
from head to toe. He sat down in ashes and took
a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself.
His wife said, “How can you go through all this
and still keep your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He said, “You’re talking foolishness! I’m
willing to accept whatever God gives me, good
or bad.” And so, with all of this, Job didn’t sin or
blame God.
Three friends of Job heard about what had
happened, and went to visit him. They couldn’t
believe their eyes when they saw him sitting
there. They yelled and threw dust in their hair.
All three sat down next to Job and didn’t say
anything for seven days.
Finally Job cried out, “I wish I’d never been
born!”
His friends then tried to help him understandwhat was happening to him. One friend
explained that righteous people don’t suffer
like this, only sinners do. Job agreed with him,
but he didn’t know of anything he had done to
deserve this.
His second friend was a bit more bold. He
said, “Job, you’re a hypocrite! You need to
confess your sin, and then God will be merciful.”
Job again held to his innocence. He said, “I
remember seeing the righteous suffering, while
evildoers were prospering.”
His third friend was the most bold of all. He
said, “Job, you’re a liar! You’re a sinful man and
deserve God’s judgment.” Now Job became
passionate about his innocence.
A young man came along with a different
perspective. He wanted to encourage Job. He
said “God meant this suffering to be educational.
Yes, the Lord is trying to correct your sin, but
he’s also restoring you to righteousness.”
Suddenly, God talked to Job. He said, “My
ways are far above what you can understand.
My purpose for suffering is an individual matter
for each person. Job, listen. I always know what
is going on with you, and I’m always with you. I
simply want you to come to the end of yourself
and totally trust in me.”
The Lord then turned to Job’s friends. “I’m
angry with you. All of your advice is false. Only
Job spoke the truth.” God told them to make a
burnt sacrifice and ask Job to pray for them.
God then restored to Job double of all that
he had before. He got twice as many sheep
and camels. He got twice as many oxen, and
donkeys. God also gave him seven more sons
and three more daughters.
Job lived to be an old man. He died at the age
of 140 after living a full life
© God Child