Job lived in the land of Uz. He was a good person. He respected God and shunned evil. Job was the richest person in the east with livestock, 10 children and a wife. The kids took turns having feasts and afterward, Job always made an offering for their sins, just in case there were some.
In heaven one day the angels gathered around God. Satan was there too. The Lord asked him where he'd been. He told God he had been roaming the earth, going back and forth in it. The Lord told them what He thought about Job, and asked them what they thought about Job. Satan piped up and said that nothing bad had ever happened to Job, so why wouldn't he be righteous? The Lord told him to do whatever he wanted to test Job, but not to harm him.
One day a servant reported to Job that his oxen and donkeys had been stolen and servants killed. While that servant was still speaking a servant rushed in to say that God had sent down fire and killed his sheep and more servants. Before he finished speaking a third servant came in to report that his camels and the rest of his servants had been stolen. While he was still speaking a fourth servant came in to say that his children had been crushed to death during a windstorm while feasting at the house of his oldest son. When Job heard all this he tore his clothes, shaved his head and knelt in prayer acknowledging that the Lord gives and the Lord takes, Praise God!
The angels gathered around God again and Satan came and God asked him what he thought about the way Job reacted, of course Satan replied that he wouldn't be that badly affected since he wasn't suffering in his own body. So God gave him permission to cause him physical pain, but not to kill him. Satan caused sores to erupt all over Job's body from head to toe. Job sat on the ash heap and used a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. Job's wife asked him why he still trusted God, and why he didn't just curse Him and die? Job told her not to talk like a fool, that if we accept his blessings, we also have to accept trouble as well. Job never said anything bad against God.
Three of Job's friends came to visit him. When they saw him they didn't recognize him. They tore their robes, put ashes on their heads and sat with him for a week. Finally, Job cursed the day he was born. Then he wondered why he hadn't died at birth, because death would be so much better than this life he was living. Then he wondered aloud why God let him continue to live, that his fondest wish was to be dead.
His friend Eliphaz spoke to Job and pointed out all the good he had done in word and deed. He reminded Job that God does away with those who don't respect Him. And that humans are fragile and there are no guarantees. Then he suggested that Job ask God for help, because God helps people who suffer.
Tomorrow read Job 5:17-8:22
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