Scripture: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I’ll return (Job 1: 6-22)
6-7 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, “What have you been up to?”
Reflection: (Job 1:6)
The Bible speaks of other heavenly councils where God and the angels plan their activities on earth and where angels are required to given account of themselves (e.g. 1 Kings 22:19-23). Because God is creator of all angels – both those who serve Him and those who rebelled – He has complete power and authority over them.
Reflection: (Job 1:6-7)
Satan, originally an angel of God, had become corrupt through his own pride.
He has been evil since his rebellion against God (1 John 3:8).
Satan considers God his enemy. He tries to hinder God’s work in people, but he is limited by God’s power and can do only what he is permitted (Luke 22:31-32; 1 Timothy 1:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:23-26).
Satan is our enemy because he actively looks for people to attack with temptation (1 Peter 5:8-9) and because he wants to make people hate God.
He does through lies and deception (Genesis 3:1-6).
Job, a blameless and upright man who had been greatly blessed, was a perfect target for Satan.
Any person who is committed to God should expect Satan’s attacks.
Reflection: (Job 1:6-12)
From this conversation, we learn a great deal about Satan.
- He is accountable to God.All angelic beings, good and evil, are compelled to present themselves before God (Job 1:6). God knew Satan was intent on attacking Job.
- Satan can be at only one place at a time (Job 1:6-7). His demons aid him in his work; but as a created being, he is limited.
- Satan cannot see into our minds or foretell the future (Job 1:9-11). If he could, he would have known that Job would not break under pressure.
- Because Satan can do nothing without God’s permission (Job 1:12), God’s people can overcome his attacks through God’s power.
- God puts limitations on what Satan can do (Job 1:12; 2:6). Satan’s response to the Lord’s question (Job 1:7) tells us that Satan is real and active on earth. Knowing this about Satan should cause us to remain close to the one who is greater than Satan – God Himself.
Reflection: (Job 1:7)
Could this conversation between God and Satan really have happened?
Other Bible passages tell us that Satan does indeed have access to God (see Revelation 12:10). He even went into God’s presence to make accusations against Joshua the high priest (Zechariah 3:1-2).
Apart from this conversation, the reasons for Job’s suffering become meaningless, and the book of Job loses its force.
8 God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”
Reflection: (Job 1:8,12)
Job was a model of trust in and obedience to God, yet God permitted Satan to attack him in an especially harsh manner.
Although God loves us, believing and obeying Him do not shelter us from life’s calamities, setbacks, tragedies, and sorrows strike Christians and non-Christians alike.
But in our tests and trials, God expects us to express our faith to the world.
How do you respond to your troubles? Do you ask God “Why me?” or do you say, “Use me!”?
9-10 Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!
Reflection: (Job 1:9)
Satan attacked Job’s motives saying that Job was blameless and had integrity only because he had no reason to turn against God.
Ever since he had started following God, everything had gone well for Job.
Satan wanted to prove that Job worshiped God not out of love but because God had given him so much.
Satan accurately analyzed why many people trust God. They are fair weather believers, following God only when everything is going well or for what they can get.
Adversity destroys this superficial faith. But adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms.
How deep does your faith go?
Put the roots of your faith down deep into God so that you can withstand any storm you may face.
11 “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.”
12 God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.
Reflection: (Job 1:12)
This conversation between God and Satan teaches us an important fact about God – He is fully aware of every attempt by Satan to bring suffering and difficulty upon us.
While God may allow us to suffer for a reason beyond our understanding, He is never caught off-guard by our troubles and is always compassionate.
13-15 Sometime later, while Job’s children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
Reflection: (Job 1:15-17)
The Sabeans were form southwest Arabia, while the Chaldeans were from the region north of the Persian Gulf.
16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
18-19< While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, “Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I’m the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened.”
20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:
Reflection: (Job 1:20-22)
Job did not hide his overwhelming grief.
He had not lost his faith in God; instead, his emotions showed that he was human and that he loved his family.
God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them as Job did.
If you have experienced a deep loss, a disappointment, or a heartbreak, admit your feelings to yourself and others, and grieve.
21 Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth.
God gives, God takes.
God’s name be ever blessed.
22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
Reflection: (Job 1:20-22)
Job had lost his possessions and family in the first of Satan’s tests, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God’s sovereign authority over everything God had given him.
Satan had lost this first round.
Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who He is, for what He gives.