"Then Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Does Job fear God for no reason? [...] But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.'" --Job 1:9, 11
The book of Job is considered by some to be one of the oldest books of the Bible, with the story likely taking place around the time of Abraham. Job is a wealthy man who loves God with all his heart, his life a visible manifestation of his devotion to godly principles. Renowned for his righteousness, he is always caring for others and sharing out of the abundance God has given him.
Satan, the great enemy of humankind, sees Job's righteousness and despises him for it. He comes to God and asks permission to torment Job, insisting that Job only remains faithful to God because of God's continued blessings. If all he has is taken away, even he will turn away from God.
What follows is a dramatic dialogue between Job and his friends as they wrestle with that age-old question: Why do bad things happen to good people?
When read immediately after the account of the fall of humankind in Genesis, Job is particularly striking. It illustrates in heartbreaking colors the grim consequences of our rebellion against God. Not even the righteous are safe from the curse of the world. In fact, it's often the righteous who will suffer more, for their every good deed goes against the grain of sin.
But as Job wrestles with his doubts and overwhelming grief, he learns a valuable truth: God is there. He is lost, struggling, despairing, but even then God hears him. God sees him. God knows. Satan has done his worst against Job, but still God remains. Job can maintain his precious faith, because the object of that faith has not changed.
May we hold fast to our own faith, knowing to the deepest depth of our souls that God is still there.
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