In Job 1-2 Reading, which you can read in the English Standard Version or the New International Version, the author recorded the woes that befell a man called Job courtesy of his integrity. Interestingly, both God and Satan were involved in Job’s woes as I have summarised and analyzed below.
Job 1-2 Devotional (Daily Bible Reading for January 4 (Day 4))
Summary
Job
Job and his character, (and his children and wealth) introduced
In Job 1-2 Reading, Job was introduced as a man who hailed from the land of Uz. The man was blameless and upright, a fearer of God, and an avoider of evil (Job 1:1). He had 7 sons and 3 daughters, possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, thus, the greatest man in the east (Job 1:2-3).
His sons used to hold feasts in each of their houses, each on his day, with their sisters in attendance (Job 1:4). And when they had run the course of the feasts, Job would send and consecrate them by offering burnt offerings to take care of any sin they would have committed or curse that they would have attracted (Job 1:5).
God and Satan concerning Job and his character (integrity)
God asked Satan if he had considered Job during his roaming of the earth
One day, Satan presented himself before God when His sons were presenting themselves before Him (1:6). God then asked him where he had come from, and he answered that he had come from roaming the earth (1:7). And God asked him if he had considered Job since there was no one as blameless and upright, God-fearing, and evil-avoiding like him (1:8).
Satan responded to God telling Him that Job feared Him because He protected him and all his possessions, and He blessed the work of his hands and possessions (1:9-10). He, therefore, told God to touch all that Job had, opining that Job would curse Him (1:11). And God granted him access to Job’s possessions only, and he left His presence (1:12).
Satan destroyed Job’s children and wealth
Therefore, one day, when Job’s sons were holding a feast in their oldest brother’s house, one of his servants went to him and informed him that the Sabeans had taken his oxen and donkeys and, except for him, killed all his fellow servants (Job 1:13-15). And before the servant was done informing him, another servant went to him and informed him that a fire from heaven burned up his sheep and consumed all his fellow servants (Job 1:16).
Similarly, before his servant was done informing him, another servant went to him and informed him that the Chaldeans had taken his camels, and killed all his fellow servants (Job 1:17). And while the servant was informing him, another servant went to him and informed him that a great wind struck the house of his oldest son and it fell on his children and his other servants, and only he escaped (Job 1:18-19).
Consequently, Job rose up, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell on the ground, and worshipped God, saying “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked shall I return; The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be His name” (Job 1:20-21). He, therefore, did not sin or charge God with wrong (Job 1:22).
God again asked Satan if he had considered Job during his roaming of the earth
Later, on another day, Satan presented himself before God when His sons were presenting themselves before Him (Job 2:1). Again, God asked him where he had come from, and he answered that he had come from roaming the earth (Job 2:2). And God, like before, asked him if he had considered Job, whom none was like, because he was not only blameless and upright, God-fearing, and evil-avoiding, he still held to his integrity despite Satan inciting Him to destroy him (Job 2:3).
Satan finally destroyed Job’s body
But Satan incited God to touch his body and he would curse Him (Job 2:4-5), and God granted him access to Job’s body, but not his life (Job 2:6). The inciter then struck Job with loathsome sores on his whole body, such that he scraped himself while he sat on ashes (Job 2:7-8). Then his wife wondered why he still held fast to his integrity, advising him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). And he told her that she had spoken foolishly because they ought to have expected both good and evil from God, thus, he still did not sin (Job 2:10).
Key/Memory Verse(s) from Job 1-2 Reading
- Job 1:1 (ESV) There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
- Job 1:8 (ESV) 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?”
- Job 1:9-10 (ESV) 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
- Job 1:20-21 (ESV) 20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “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.”
- Job 2:9-10 (ESV) 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Commentary on Job 1-2 Reading
God is King
The Book of Genesis, specifically Genesis 1-3, revealed that God is King over all His creation. He is, therefore, the sovereign ruler of the heavens and the earth and the host of them.
Job 1-2 Reading reinforces the truth that God is King over all His creation by recording that His sons gathered before Him in what could be referred to as a heavenly or divine council. And Satan is recorded to have also joined them.
Satan is subject/subordinate to God
Moreover, Job 1-2 reveals that Satan is subject/subordinate to God. Job 1:7 recorded that it was God who initiated a conversation with Satan. And it was Him who also introduced the subject of Job and his integrity in His conversation with Satan.
Interestingly, Satan, the accuser, took the opportunity presented by God’s subject of conversation, to incite God to destroy Job. And God, therefore, permitted him to destroy Job’s children, his wealth, and later his body.
Consequently, Satan explicitly acknowledged that he could not act independently of the permission of God. That is, he was able to do only what God permitted/allowed him to do.
Life is spiritual
Additionally, both God’s and Satan’s actions and intents in the heavens resulted in Job’s woes. That is, the interaction between God and satan resulted in Job’s woes.
Therefore, the disasters that befell Job were attributable to both God and Satan. Unfortunately, Job wasn’t aware of it because life is spiritual. That is, God’s interactions in the heavens do affect your life in the earth.
Consequently, God is ultimately in control of what happens to you, and the authority of Satan is derivative and secondary. Satan does not and cannot act independently of God who takes care of you. And God can and more often than not uses Satan as an instrument for accomplishing His purpose, which is the testing of saints.
Unfortunately, God’s saints are usually unaware of His purposes during such times. And Satan, on the other hand, not only accuses the saints, but he tempts them.
Prayer
Lord God, I praise You be being in control of all Your creation. I thank You for being in charge of my life and everything concerning it, for I know that Satan cannot steal from me, kill me, or destroy me without your permission.
You are a wonderful King. I, therefore, submit myself to Your care of me in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Verse
Matthew 4:2 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
