February 27, 2009
THE HAND OFF
Job 1
Kim Aaron
Central Truth
Nothing touches our lives without first passing through God's hands.
Key Verse | Job 1:12
So the Lord said to Satan, "All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!" So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:12)
Job 1
Job's Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed 1 1:5 The Hebrew word bless is used euphemistically for curse in 1:5, 11; 2:5, 9 God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan 2 1:6 Hebrew the Accuser or the Adversary; so throughout chapters 12 also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the LORD said to Satan, “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?” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Satan Takes Job's Property and Children
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants 3 1:15 Hebrew the young men; also verses 16, 17 with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Dive Deeper | Job 1
Do you ever feel like you are trying your best to do what is “right” or “good,” but things still don’t work out? Have you experienced hurt, disappointment, or loss? Take a look at Job.
In Job 1, Job is going about his business, living his life, taking care of his family. All the things a good patriarch is supposed to do. Then the Lord, THE LORD!, points out Job to Satan. Not only does He point out Job, He allows Job to be taken into Satan’s own hands. One commentary states that the Lord essentially abandoned Job into the hand of Satan, with the only restriction on Satan being that he inflict no harm on Job physically. Job loses his children, his servants, and his livelihood. This makes no sense. Surely, there were other people who “deserved” to be turned over to Satan, but not Job. Job was one of the “good” guys doing the “right” things.
Nevertheless, the Lord did allow it, even encouraged it. So I look at Job’s response. While I all too often angrily shake my fist at the Lord and challenge Him in the midst of life’s struggles, Job acknowledges that he is subject to the Lord, who gives and takes away. He recognizes that everything in his life has passed through God’s hands, and he worships Him. He hurts, he mourns the losses in his life, he tears his robe and shaves his head, but he does it all without ascribing any blame to the Lord. Instead, he worships, calling for the name of the Lord to be blessed.
I'm embarrassed to admit that, when coping with difficulties in my life, worshiping is not my first impulse. Instead, I attempt to argue, cajole, negotiate, demand and/or beg to be delivered from my circumstances. In reading Job 1, I’ve been convicted about my insistence on living life on my own terms and my unwillingness to accept whatever the Lord has for me. How about you?
Discussion Questions
1. How do you interact with the Lord when you experience hurt, disappointment, or loss? Do you struggle, or do you worship?
2. Reflecting back on your life, what times can you identify in which it felt as if the Lord had abandoned you? Can you now see His Hand molding circumstances and events into something that has drawn you closer to Him?