“Then 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, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ …
“And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’ ” Job 1:8, 12
So Satan caused marauders to steal Job’s oxen, donkeys, and camels, and kill his servants. He made a fire to come down and burn up all his sheep and shepherds and a great storm collapsed the house and killed all of Job’s children.
Job’s response? “ ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this, Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Verses 21, last part, 22
Then, the Lord allowed Satan to go a little farther. He said, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” Job 2:6
Now, Satan afflicts Job with boils, leaving him with only a complaining wife who suggests he curse God and die. Still, Job responds to his wife in the same manner, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Verse 10, last part
Then, his three miserable friends try to convince him that he must be a sinful man and that God is punishing him. Still, he replies, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job 13:15
This habit of complete trust in God enables Job to assert in faith, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25–27
Someone might ask about chapters 3, 6, 10, and others where it seems Job has lost faith. He curses his birth, finds no comfort, and looks for understanding to that always sought-after answer. Why? An answer that is all too often not available—yet! He speaks of what he has lost, and later in the book, he challenges God. God’s response: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:4
I think we’ve all been in Job’s situation at some point. The circumstances may have been different, but we still have asked: Why? Remember where all this trouble came from? Satan accused God that Job only served Him because He had made him rich and protected him. I wonder if Job lost faith or if he just couldn’t see as God does.
Think of the confidence God had in Job. It was God who started the conversation with Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?” Job still had some things he needed to see about himself, and God, through this trial, allowed him to see them. In the end, Job answered the Lord, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. … Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2–6
Lord, help us to have the faith of Job and transform us so that we might be worthy for You to ask, “Have you considered My servant?”