Something God is After!

Much has been and will continue to be written about Job, but I just want to draw out one little thought that could prove instructive—something God is after.

Satan has occasion to tell God, in reviewing God’s servants on the earth, “Does Job fear God for nothing?”. . ..“But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  “So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person' ” (Job 1:9b,11&12).

So Satan begins a frontal assault on Job, taking away his children and his possessions.  Job did not curse God, rather he gave praise to God.

Then Satan ups the stakes saying to God with regard to Job, “But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  The conversation continues, “So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life' ” (Job 2:5,6).  In the first test Satan had permission to take everything Job had, but not touch his person.  In the second test Satan had permission to touch Job’s person, but not take his life.  This Satan did, striking Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.

At a time like this under the barrage of personal loss of all his children and his possessions, it almost comes as an insult to have his body so painfully attacked.  In such an unusual circumstance, a person usually begins to look around for whatever solace he can find, perhaps his wife?

But, no, almost as though she were on Satan’s payroll, Job’s wife says, “Do you still hold to your integrity?  Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9)  At this very point she becomes the arch enemy of his soul, tempting Job to say what Satan said he would say under such circumstance.  Job does not succumb to this temptation, taking the high road saying, "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?"  (Job 2:9)  

Through all Job is experiencing God is after something, it’s not that God wonders about Job’s response to all that has happened—because God knows, living in the eternal present where past and future are alike to Him—rather God needs to lead Job to a place where Job knows what he will do, and finally God is able to draw this out of Job when Job declares, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”(Job 13:15).  Now God has his man!  God knows it and Job knows it.

Do you know that God knows He has you?