Day 19

I am excited to enter into Job. This first reading has so much in it already!

Very early, I am already puzzled. Chapter 1 verse 6 says, "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan also came among them." The New International Version makes this a little more clear. It says, "One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them." This states that Satan is an angel. In the verse after, God asks Satan where he came from. Satan answers, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it." Satan is an angel that is among us here on earth! That is a little scary and eye opening! It makes me think a little differently about him. I always saw him as far off. I believe people can be controlled by evil and by Satan, but I did not picture him as an angel that is among us! Whoa!

My favorite verse in Job so far is chapter 1 verse 8. There God is bragging to Satan about Job! He says, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" What faith Job must have had for God to brag about him! I have a burning desire to be one that God brags about!

Satan talks with God and says that Job is only upright because the Lord has blessed him so richly. So God allows Satan to take away all that Job possesses including his children! Still Job remains faithful. Satan then goes back to God and God allows Satan to inflict pain on Job. Still Job remains faithful!

I find it interesting that God allows Satan to do these things to Job, but still sets limits for Satan. God has the authority even over Satan! If that is the case, why does God allow Satan to be in the world and working among us? Are we all being constantly tempted like Job?

I am quite often quick to turn away from God when things are not going my way. I am quite often like the person Satan thinks Job is; one who will turn away at the sign of trouble. Job displays what true faith is. "I want a faith like that!" (Jonah 33)