Job: The Guy Everyone Wanted To Be, Job 1:1-12

By Pastor Rich Paradis

 

It is difficult to study things that we already think we “know”. Most of us that have any church experience think we know something of the Job story and we probably do. But sometimes thinking that we know something can keep us from learning something! As we begin our study in this important book, let’s do our best to set aside those things that we think we “know”. That way we will be open and expectant of what God wants us to see as we study together. First of all, we have to admit that Job’s life doesn’t look too bad as the book opens…

 

I.                    Job: The Guy Everyone Wanted To Be    Job 1:1-5

a.       I am impressed that the first couple of words in this story give us some very helpful information: Job was a real man. While there are some that think that somehow Job must be a “composite” man in that no one could possibly go through all that he will go through, Verse 1 tells us that “There was a man…”

b.      This man is named Job and he is from the Land of Uz. While the exact location of Uz is difficult to nail down, it is probably on the other side of the Jordan River (the east side) and is south and east of the Dead Sea. We would refer to this place as modern-day Jordan. But take a look at the attributes of Job that the unknown writer decides to start the story with:

                                                               i.      He was blameless – He was not sinless; only a man beyond reproach. He was known as one who was full of integrity and mature / complete.

                                                             ii.      He was upright – This word is interesting in that it actually is translated “straight”.

                                                            iii.      He feared God – This is the beginning of wisdom, according to Job 28:28. Job respected who God was, what He said and did.

                                                           iv.      He turned away from evil – He went the other way. In a world with only 2 “ways”, good and folly, Job chose goodness.

c.       Without question, Job was a man that a lot of us would like to be when it comes of character and virtue. But that’s not the end of the description. The person of the ancient world that would be called “wealthy” or “rich” would be called this on the basis of possession. Land, animals, and servants were the currency of this world, and Job had all of them in excess, according to Verses 2-3:

                                                               i.      7 sons and 3 daughters – Some have noted that these 2 numbers are numbers of completion. His family was “complete”. But it was also a great blessing to have multiple children in the ancient world, and Job had this blessing well covered.

                                                             ii.      7000 sheep – Much land would be necessary to accommodate these animals.

                                                            iii.      3000 camels – Again, much land and feed must have been available to sustain these animals.

                                                           iv.      500 yoke of oxen – This is 1000 oxen in that there were two in a yoke.

                                                             v.      500 female donkeys – Female donkeys were very valuable in that they could be bred to have more donkeys.

                                                           vi.      Very many servants – Again, servants were a sign of wealth in the ancient world.

d.      It is also noted at the end of Verse 3 that Job was “the greatest of all the men of the east”. Job was a man of culture and reputation. In whatever area of greatness a man could be measured in that world, Job was the best.

e.       Job’s family was also very close, according to Verse 4. When each of the sons “had his day”, his birthday was spent around the rest of the children. They would eat and drink; all ten of them.

f.        In no way insinuating evil or debauchery, Verse 5 tells us that Job served his family in a way that all responsible fathers in the ancient world (before the priesthood) would serve their own family. He would serve them as the priest, both preparing them and submitting offerings to God for his children. He cared greatly, consistently, and constantly for his children and their spiritual welfare.

 

II.                 Job: A Topic Of Discussion    Job 1:6-12

a.       Meanwhile, as Job is living this exemplary life on the earth we are given a very interesting insight into the heavenly world as Verse 6 opens up. This day under examination seems no different in the way the account starts than any other day. It begins with the “sons of God” gathering before the Lord. These “sons of God” are the good angels that stand in the presence of God. But also alongside this group of good angels is the fallen one, Satan, who also shows up at the same time as this daily activity is under way.

b.      Verse 7 opens in a very interesting way. The Omnipresent and Omniscient God of All asks Satan where he was coming from. Do you believe for one moment that God did not know both from where and what Satan had been up to? Not likely!! But the answer that Satan will give will offer us some insight into his character and his motives. He offers that he has been roaming about on the earth and walking around it. We learned in 1 Peter 5:8 that Satan is prowling around with one thing in mind: devouring! He is out on the prowl for any and all that would be tasty targets for his evil plans and desires.

c.       Satan has his eye out for someone to devour, and Verse 8 tells us that God Himself asks this “lion” if he has considered God’s servant Job. What???!!! He follows up with the same description that was offered in Verse 1. Job would be a very tasty meal for one that loves to devour those that desire to follow God. Is it God’s desire to “sacrifice” Job to Satan? NO! All that will follow is not God testing Job out of mere sport. God knows what Satan is up to, and offers His servant Job as an example of one that will not dishonor God.

d.      The conversation moves forward with a full frontal attack by Satan. But the attack is not primarily on Job; it is on God! Satan asks in Verses 9-10 if God has “bought” the worship of Job with His blessing of him. Satan accuses God of only having the worship of Job because of the hedge of protection and the blessing that He has bestowed on him. He goes on to say that if those things were removed from Job’s account, Job would quickly turn from being a worshipper of God to cursing Him. And he would not just curse God from afar; he would curse Him right to His face.

e.       Part 1 of this conversation in heaven ends with the Lord saying to Satan that all of Job’s possessions can now be attacked by Satan and his evil plans. This allowance by God is not so that Job will fail; it is so that he will worship. The attack of Satan is on God through the man Job; so the answer to Satan will need to be provided by God through the man Job. Verse 12 also has God restricting the activity of Satan to his family and his possessions. He is not to harm Job physically.

f.        With that, Satan is off and running…

 

III.               An Application For All Of Us

a.       What is your attitude toward your possessions? Do they bring cause you to worship God more; or do they distract you from the ongoing worship that He deserves?

b.      Do the seemingly righteous sometimes suffer? Yes!

c.       We must realize that there is one who is out to destroy us and to devour us!

d.      Will there be a God-prescribed limit to how much we will be allowed to suffer? Yes! 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises those that follow Christ of that comforting truth.