3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job 2:3
Having previously addressed the question repeated in Job 2:2, I would like to address the next repeated question, which unlike Job 2:2 elicits a different answer than before. Following the death of Job’s children, servants, oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels at the hands of Satan, the LORD again asks the Serpent if he has considered the godly man who humbly, worshipfully, and innocently responded to these fiery, God ordained trials with the words:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”.
Despite all Job experienced in a matter of minutes, God points out the man still has his integrity.
But, Satan, in keeping with his nature, will not let the matter go. He believes Job will curse God if only God will allow Satan to harm him because, after all, man would give anything for his life. Again, God sovereignly grants the devil’s request, with one caveat: “Only spare his life”. At first this may seem like God is extending mercy to Job, but sometimes death is a relief. This is Job’s road to travel, but it was not exactly the road of His Savior. For while Christ suffered and endured on the cross, He gave Himself willingly over to the death ordained for Him in order to defeat the Serpent. As the ESV Study Bible says:
“But when Christ comes, he is allowed to die at the hands of sinful men (Acts 2:23). It is the supreme act of trust and of vindication of the name of God, as well as victory over Satan (John 12:31).” (1)
This brings to mind the words of Hebrews 12:3-7
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Bereans, though you may have suffered much already, the truth is your trials may have just begun.
But, in Christ’s death, you will find strength to endure what is to come, knowing He is acquainted with your suffering, and that He endured, gaining victory over the Serpent and is now seated victorious at the right hand of the Father. “Blessed be the name of the LORD”!
In Christ,
Rich
1. Crossway Bibles. 2008. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
