Jesus once said of his church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Paul once wrote to the Christians of Ephesians: Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and principalities, against the dark forces of evil in the heavenly places.
When we come to the book of Job, nothing is clearer than this: Job was in the midst of a spiritual battle even though he was completely unaware of what was going on behind the scenes. As far as we can tell, he is never informed. We, the readers, get to stand in the privileged position of seeing the bigger picture.
Perhaps more importantly, we discover that Job’s character and his integrity, even though they are tested in the crucible of Satan’s worst onslaughts, stand. Job stands. He is God’s man even when he thinks God is afflicting him beyond all reason and has no idea why, even when his wife tells him to curse God and die and his friends surround him and blame him for his condition over and over. This weeks readings brings us to chapter 31.
So where do we see Jesus thus far in our study of Job? Job is like Jesus in his suffering as a blameless man. We see Jesus in Job enduring what others deserve. We see Jesus in Job as he is attacked by Satan doing his worst to destroy his integrity. We see Jesus in Job when he is faced with false accusations and is betrayed by his friends. We hear Job in Jesus when Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” In Job’s as well as in Jesus’ life, Satan attempts to overthrow good with suffering and temptation to sin.
Of course there are also differences. Unlike Job, Jesus endures God’s wrath and punishment for the sins of all mankind. As Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Unlike Job, Jesus is God, the creator, and in His suffering, we find redemption from sin and salvation. Again Isaiah says, “By his stripes we are healed.” And unlike Job, Jesus is put to death, paying the ultimate price of his very life and blood to bring to us God’s grace and forgiveness. While Job is a blameless man of God, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, the perfect sinless Lamb of God, our sacrifice, Savior, King and Lord.
Through this book of Job we learn mysteries about God, Satan, and man, some that are troubling and others that are comforting. Since we are reading through this entire 42 chapter book in less than two weeks in our reading schedule, we have just enough time this week to get Job into the middle of all the trouble and misery that is described here.
Let’s launch into Job together, shall we? We meet this rich man from the east whose wealth is measured in livestock and whose character is measured in these terms: blameless and upright, one who fears God and turns away from evil. Job is a caring father of 10 apparently grown children. They have their own houses and they like to have each other over for parties. It doesn’t say so, but Job doesn’t seem to go to these parties. But he does clean up afterward, spiritually, that is. After each child celebrates his or her birthday Job gets up the next morning and offers a sacrifice of burnt offerings, one for each one of them. Just in case they might have cursed God in their hearts. The bible says that he did this continually. Once a parent, always a parent. Amen???
I like Job already. As a father of only three, I know the burden of wanting my children to walk closely with the Lord. What a different world we would live in today if every parent were like Job! But don’t miss the point here. This not only tells us that Job is very concerned with his children’s spiritual well being, doesn’t it also tell you that Job deeply loves his children? Don’t you know that they are the center of his heart? He who walks in the fear of the Lord wants more than anything for his children to do the same. You younger folks listen to me. There is nothing more fulfilling for your parents than to see and know that you walk faithfully with the Lord. Nothing outshines that. Nothing! When I think about my children and what they make of this life God has granted them, I don’t care how far or how fast they run or how great their achievements or how fancy their surroundings or how full their material cup is, if they don’t walk with Jesus and follow him, it is all for nothing. And if they live this life for Jesus Christ, and die in the Lord, no matter where or how difficult the path, and if they pass that torch of faith on to their children, that means everything to me.
Did you notice that Job’s wife isn’t mentioned until later, and when she does speak, her words betray a faith that has failed and been crushed? As we read Job together in our reading group at our house Thursday night, someone noted that when Satan killed off Job’s family, he left Job’s wife alive. Perhaps this is because he planned to use her lack of faith to bring Job down. But I am getting ahead of the story…
After we meet Job and find out about his faith, his wealth and his children, suddenly we are swept up into the presence of God and like an unseen observer we are allowed to watch and overhear a conversation between God and Satan.
(Read text: Job 1:6-12)
Now, let me ask you a question. Did this conversation actually take place? Does Satan actually ever come before God and discuss the affairs of men? Does he still do that? Is Satan still working and influencing what happens in our lives today, in your life? Listen to what the Bible says:
Look at Luke 22: 31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;
32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."
33 And he said to Him, "Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!"
34 And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."
2 Cor. 4: 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Eph 2:1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
So where is our confidence? As Christians we are baptized into Jesus Christ and have received the Holy Spirit who protects us so that Paul can write:
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let’s get back to Job. So what happened when Satan accused Job? What does God do?
Look at it here. Satan is given permission to take everything from Job! In one day, we read how Job lost it all! His oxen and donkeys, his sheep, his camels, and then… his children’s lives, all taken from him, in an instant!
I tell you one thing, reading Job makes me want to pray the Lord’s prayer a whole lot more where Jesus taught us to say, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one!” Amen and amen!
Just look at Job! What does he do? How does he react? Where is his faith now? Is there anything left for him to hold on to God for? To Satan’s chagrin and yet to God’s glory, Job’s heart retains its integrity before God. Hear his words even as he must have wept for his children…
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
What is in this man? How can he say such things in the face of such loss? Surely this vindicates Job’s character before heaven and earth! Yes, but not before the eyes of the spirit who’s destiny is hell. Though God is glorified, and Job is vindicated, Satan is not satisfied. Jesus said of Satan in John 8: 44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.
I believe that Satan wants Job dead. He wants to crush his faith and destroy his body. But God won’t let him. He wants Job to be as evil as he is. Satan’s heart is so corrupt he can’t imagine anyone doing anything from pure motives. He can’t bring himself to admit that a man exists like Job who could actually be a man who walks before God because his has a heart for God. Satan’s entire agenda is to expose Job’s selfishness. Satan sees only himself and his own evil in others. He even accuses God of propping up Job’s character. That Job is merely a puppet who responds to God because God makes it so.
God, on the other hand, sees Job’s heart and knows that Job is genuinely blameless and upright, fearing God and turning from evil. God knows Job. He knows. He has Job’s heart in his hands and knows it fully. He will not allow Job to be tempted beyond what he can bear. But there is no one else like him, I’m sorry to say. Men like Job are rare. In fact, a man like Job may have only occurred one time until Jesus came.
In chapter 2 God and Satan have a second conversation about Job. This time Satan says to God, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. Just touch his bone and flesh and he will curse you to your face.” Then it is woe of woes for Job. God says these terrifying words to Satan about Job, “Behold, he is in your hand, but preserve his life.”
I don’t quite know what to think of that. Personally, I wish God had simply given Satan what he deserves right then and there. Instead God allows Satan to strike Job with horrible sores from the top of his head to the sole of his feet. Job’s own wife loses all hope. Listen to her words: 9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!" But Job will not do it!
By all appearances Job’s life is ruined. Think of it! His possessions are all gone, his physical health is broken, and even his wife advises him to curse God and die. Next we see that his reputation before his friends who come to comfort him is also gone. If you sum up the message of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, it amounts to this: Job is being punished for his sins.
Job responds by defending his integrity and by crying out to God to please hear me, or at least let me die in peace.
In the Walt Disney animation Aladdin, the villain Jafar ends up as an all powerful genie but stuck in a lamp with his covillian Iago. Later there was a sequel made where Jafar comes back with Iago to destroy Aladdin and the good guys. It is called, predictably enough, The Return of Jafar. In this movie, Iago eventually converts to good and betrays Jafar the all powerful evil genie. And Jafar lets loose all his powers against Iago. It looks like Iago is dead, but genies are not allowed to kill anyone. As the good guys surround Iago after he is all but gone, one of them remembers this and says, “I thought genies weren’t able to kill anyone.” To which Iago weakly responds, “Yeah, but you’d be surprised at what you can live through.” These words are certainly true for Job. There are some things that are worse than dying. Job experiences the very breath of hell, and that is where we must leave him at this time.
I hate to end here, but this is where our reading ends. Come back next week for the exciting conclusion of the book.
You know, our story is still in progress as well. Some of us are enjoying the comforts and blessings of affluence and prosperity, and the respect of family and friends. Where would you stand before God today if all of these were taken away? What would you do?
Listen, Jesus has not promised us a life of ease and comforts in our faith. In fact, Jesus has warned us of hardships and persecution. God knows you. He knows your heart and holds it in his hand. He also knows your future and he wants you to have eternal glory with him in heaven. Thank God for his warning and promise in 1 Corinthians 10: 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
Job’s suffering provides us with instruction. Your suffering for Christ may be the very tool God uses to turn another person to Christ. In Jesus Christ our sufferings are not in vain. I close with these words from God’s word: 2 Corinthians 4: 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore also we speak;
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God? Have you repented of your sins and confessed him as Lord and Savior? Have you been buried with him in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life in Christ?
