Bible and Job
What kind of person is Job?
The first line of the Bible's Book of Job tells us that the man was "perfect and upright," meaning that he worshipped God faithfully and avoided evil in his own life. As the owner of a large farm containing thousands of livestock, Job was considered to be a wealthy man in his time. Job was also an honorable family man, as he cared greatly for his seven sons and three daughters, even offering burnt sacrifices on his altar to sanctify his children from their sins. As the story of Job continues, the reader also learns that he is a very patient man, as he keeps his faith despite God's series of punishments.
What kind of conversation occurs between God and Satan? Does God's behavior here trouble you? Why or why not?
During their conversation, Satan challenges God to a bet by saying that Job only remains faithful to God because of the family, farm, and fortune Job has been provided with. According to Satan, if God were to "put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face," because...
The fact that God accepts Satan's wager and allows Job's livestock and servants to be killed is troubling, because it would seem that God's infinite love would prevent Him from hurting such a faithful man as Job.
3.) How does Job respond to his tragedies?
When Job first loses his camels, sheep, and servants, he "arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped & #8230; in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly," meaning he kept his faith throughout these hardships. Even when Satan smites him with sore boils all over his body, Job rejects his wife's calls to reject his faith in God, asking her why he should accept the good things God creates but not the bad.
4.) What do Job's friends say? How does Job respond to his friends?
After suffering Satan's attacks on his home and his family, Job still refuses to turn his back on God's love, and soon three of his closest friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad…
