Day 5/365 Bible in a Year

Job 1-2 was my reading today. Job is a book that address the question that everyone wants to ask but never does.
"Why does God allow the righteous to suffer?"

So there's this guy named Job. He's the richest man in all land where he lives. He has "7 sons, 3 daughters, 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys". And to top it all off, the Bible says in verse 1 that "he was blameless-a man of complete integrity" Really? Take a second to think of someone you know who is blameless........NOONE!!! The Bible also says in the new testament after Jesus came and died for us that "there is none good, no not one!" Romans 3:10.

Until Jesus came to save us, all people could try as the might to be sinless, but only very few succeeded. And Job was one of those few, and as far as I've read he is the only, but I have only haphazardously read, picked through and I am only on day 5 of 365 on reading my entire Bible at a slow and understanding pace.

Well Job's sons would always take turns having people over to have meals in their homes, sometimes they'd invite their sisters. EVERY morning after these gatherings Job would go to the temple and make burnt offerings for EACH of his children, purifying them in the eyes of God. He really cared for his children, loved them so much.

Well, we've seen so far that Job has a pretty much perfect life. He has 7 sons and 3 daughters, he loves them, theylisten to him, and respect flows on both ends of these relationsips. He has the world at his fingertips and he follows God with his whole heart.

One day up in Heaven they are having a meeting, and all of the heavenly court comes to the Lord with Satan with them. God asks Satan, "Where have you come from?" Of course He knew Satan was from Hell, but He meant where have you been.. but God knows everything about EVERYBODY! He was really just wanting to show off His followers. You see, Satan told God he was patrolling the earth to watch everything. God asks Satan if he's seen His servant, Job.

Satan just said he was watching EVERYTHING that was going on. Satan of all evil entities is going to notice a servant of God. So he asks God to remove His protective shield from Job. He does, but only to test Job. God knew Job would succeed in the test of Satan.

This next part actually made me cry when I read it.. so be prepared...

Now we are back on earth, Job is sitting at home, probably praying or thinking and his sons and daughters were all feasting again. Out of nowhere comes a messenger to Job to tell him that people came to raide them and they stole all the oxen and donkeys from the field and that he was the only one to flee, while the first messenger is still speaking ANOTHER one comes up and just interupts to tell Job that the fires of Heaven came down on his sheepo and all the shepherds he was the only one left.

Like that'snot enough to lose in one day, ANOTHER messenger comes up halfway through the previous messenger's speech to tell Job that another group of people raided the camels and killed the servants, they were all dead except for, of course, him.

Job, so far has lost all his sheep, oxen, camels, servants, and only has 3 people who survived all that...and his sons and daughters, but wait. There's more.

The last thing that happened was that his sons and daughters were all celebrating and feasting, and a great wind came and knocked ALL of the walls down on them, killing them. All... this servant was the only to survive to tell...

Job tore his clothes, shaved his head, and despite all that had happened he didn't curse God. He remained blameless. He went from owning 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, 7 sons, and 3 daughters to...4 messengers and his wife...

I know I spent a lot of space on chapter 1, but is it not inspiring to see that Job kept worshipping God?

Chapter 2 is short and sorta sweet. So basically in chapter one Satan could harm ANYTHING/ANYONE who Job knew of owned but he couldn't lay one hand on Job himself. Well, in chapter 2 Satan goes to the heavenly courts again and asks God if he can test Job one more time. He takes his health, but God tells him to do as he wishes, just don't kill Job.

Satan gives him boils from head to toe. Already suffering for the loss of his children he is swollen with soars. He's scraping himself with clay when his wife comes to him and tells him to curse God and get it over with. Do you know what Job says?

"Should we accept only good things from God and none bad?"

Did he curse God? No. Did he get angry? No.

God gives Job 3 friends in this trial to share his suffering with. They sit with him andsay nothing because they understand him. They stay and sit for 7 days and nights with Job.

God always provides for us, even in intense suffering he gives us friends with common experiences. Thank you God for that, thank you for this life and the trials you give us thrugh Satan. Amen.

Prayer requests? Comment or email me at livin4christ0129@yahoo.com.

Lanie