“There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil.”
Job 1:8
Job was one of the finest men who ever lived. Listen to what God said about him: “There is none like him on the earth.” Imagine having God say that about you!
The story of Job is about how he became the target for a focused attack from Satan, and God allowed it. One day, the bottom fell out of Job’s life:
- His servants and animals were attacked and taken by a gang called the Sabeans (1:14-15).
- There was some kind of lightning strike (fire fell from heaven), burning up the sheep and another group of servants (1:16).
- The Chaldeans came with three raiding parties, took the camels, and put another group of servants to the sword (1:17).
- Then, most devastating of all, a strong wind caused the house where Job’s sons and daughters were at (for a party) to collapse, and they all died (1:18-19).
It is hard to imagine a greater disaster happening to one man in a single day. It seemed as if all hell was let loose, and in some sense that is exactly what happened. So, this book is about a man who experienced unspeakable suffering. It tells us about his struggle with himself, with his friends, and most of all, with God.
All of us have suffered, and when pain comes into your life, you will struggle with questions for God. You may find yourself complaining. You may find yourself wishing you were no longer alive. God has given us the book of Job, and it deals directly with these experiences.
How could God let this happen to a man like Job?
