JOB SINNED NOT!

Job 1 tells us of Satan's quest to get Job, who was a righteous man, to sin against God. Satan had told God that the only reason that Job was righteous was because God had, as Satan put it, "made a hedge about him." Satan agreed with God that Job was righteous but believed that it was only for selfish reasons. Satan's charge was that God had taken care of Job and had blessed him materially, which was the reason for Job's righteousness.

God decided to allow Satan to take away all that Job had. Thus Satan could try and prove his claim. In a very short period of time, Job lost all of his wealth. Chapter one (verses 14-19) of the book of Job, tells the details of Job's losses. The worse part is found in verses 18-19 which tells us about the death of his children.

How would Job react to all of this? Was Satan right to say that Job would curse God? First, we learn that Job rent his mantle and shaved his head as was the custom to show one's grief. Next, instead of cursing God, Job fell down on the ground and worshiped God! Verse 22 says, "in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job did not criticize God, nor did he say anything that would infringe upon God's goodness. In the next chapter, we learn that Satan "smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." Job still did not sin against God.

Many today have bad things happen to them, and they become angry at God and criticize Him. We do not always understand why things happen as they do. Nevertheless, we should never let the hardships and difficulties of life cause us to charge God, become discouraged, or to grow weak.

By Mike Johnson

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