The Power of the Old Testament: JOB

JOB

Job was a righteous man and strived to always do what was right and obey God's commandments. Job was also a very rich man. He was blessed with a good wife and 10 children. He also had many animals and servants. God was pleased with Job and blessed him with health and riches. Satan was certain that Job would not be as righteous if all of the blessings from the Lord were taken away.

God allowed Satan to take away everything Job had. First, it was his servants and his oxen. They had all been killed. Then a fire had burned all of his sheep. Next, his camels were stolen. Then a strong wind blew down Job's son's house and all of Job's children were killed. Job had nothing.

Job was sad but not angry with God. Instead of becoming bitter he fell to the ground and worshipped God. He said he had nothing when he was born and that God had given him everything. Even though he felt God had taken it all away he still loved God.

God knew that Job would stay righteous. That was not good enough for Satan. Satan said Job would not be righteous if he were very very sick. Satan was allowed to make Job Sick but he was not allowed to kill him.

Job did become very sick. His body was covered with sores. He was so miserable that he wished he had not been born. Job's wife asked Job if he still believed in God and loved him. Job said he did. He believed that God was good and gave blessings to people. It did not believe it was God's fault that he had suffered so much. He said that sometimes God lets bad things happen to people, even to good people.

Three of Job's friends came to see him. They felt very sorry for Job and told him that God punishes wicked people. They told Job that he must have done something wrong. Job told his friends that they were not helping him. He told them that he had not been wicked. He did not understand why so many bad things were happening to him but he did not believe God was punishing him. Job said that even if he died he would still love God and he knew he would be resurrected and have a whole body again.

The friends still insisted that Job was wicked. They told him to repent and that he could not hide his wickedness from God. Once he repented he would be blessed. But Job knew better, he knew that he was righteous. He knew that even righteous people would have trials and troubles.

Then Job heard the voice of God. God asked Job many questions. Questions like what did Job know about the clouds, the snow, and the rain. Job told God that he did not understand everything. He did not understand why God does what he does. But he believed that men must trust God no matter what happens to them. Then Job saw God. Job had been righteous through all of his trials. Job had loved and trusted God.

God again blessed Job. He gave Job more than what he had before. More animals and servants and flocks. He and his wife had more children. Job lived to be a very old happy man and he stayed very righteous.

Having trials in our lives does not mean we are wicked. It is important that we stay righteous and that we love the Lord and trust him. Many times our trials are for our good. We can learn a lot through our trials. We don't feel that way when we are in the middle of them but we can often look back and see how we had grown through our trials. The important thing is to trust in the Lord and love him with all of our hearts.

For the children