Job’s Family And Background
March 3, 2022
Commentary
Job lived in the land of Uz which was somewhere in the Middle East (v. 1). Will anyone serve the Lord if he doesn’t receive personal gain from it? This was Satan’s subtle suggestion as he accuses Job of serving God because it pays. This attack was on the integrity of God, for it suggested that the only way He can get people to worship Him is to promise them wealth. God said Job’s character was impeccable and gave four characteristics of his life:
Perfect – This did not mean that he was sinless but that he was well-balanced, a man of integrity, open, transparent; and he lived up to the light that he had.Upright – This relates to his relationship with others, and means he was faithful, loyal, and he was a man of high moral character.Feared God – This doesn’t mean a trembling fear, but he had an awesome respect for God.Eschewed (avoided) evil – He rejected evil, and as a deliberate act of will turned aside from temptation and opportunities to do wrong. In other words, he walked his talk.Job was a very wealthy man, but more importantly, he was a happy family man and a godly man (vv. 2-3). We see here a remarkable close family, with love expressed among the brothers and sisters. He was a very concerned father whose greatest fear seems to be that his children would sin (v. 4), so he offered sacrifices for them (v. 5).The next scene opens in heaven with conversation between God and Satan (vv. 6-7). God gives a good report of Job (v. 8) and Satan accuses God of putting a hedge around Job (vv. 9-10). God permits Satan to take all of Job’s possessions (vv. 11-12).
Application
What would I have said if I had been in Job’s circumstances? Perhaps - Why me? Many people have cursed God to His face and left the church for less than what Job suffered. I must always remember that I am merely a steward of God’s possessions and not the real owner.
Job 1:1– 12 (NET)
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 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.
4 Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s customary practice.
6 Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord—and Satan also arrived among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” And Satan answered the Lord, “From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.” 8 So the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.”
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Is it for nothing that Job fears God? 10 Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. 11 But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!”
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.
Illustration: Abe Lincoln A Man of Integrity
Throughout his administration, Abraham Lincoln was a president under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. And though he knew he would make errors of office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said, “I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me.” (Today In The Word, August, 1989, p. 2)