Man
Job 1:1-22
There was a
man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless, a man of complete
integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three
daughters. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred
teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, and he employed many servants.
He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
Every year
when Job's sons had birthdays, they invited their brothers and sisters to join
them for a celebration. On these occasions they would get together to eat and
drink. When these celebrations ended—and sometimes they lasted several days—Job
would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them.
For Job said to himself, "Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed
God in their hearts."
This was
Job's regular practice.
One day the
angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan the Accuser came
with them. "Where have you come from?" the Lord asked Satan.
And Satan
answered the Lord, "I have been going back and forth across the earth,
watching everything that's going on."
Then the
Lord asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man
in all the earth—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have
nothing to do with evil."
Satan
replied to the Lord, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You
have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have
made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away
everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"
"All
right, you may test him," the Lord said to Satan. "Do whatever you
want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So
Satan left the Lord's presence.
One day
when Job's sons and daughters were dining at the oldest brother's house, a
messenger arrived at Job's home with this news: "Your oxen were plowing,
with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole
all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to
tell you."
While he
was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "The fire of
God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am
the only one who escaped to tell you."
While he
was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: "Three bands
of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the
only one who escaped to tell you."
While he
was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: "Your sons
and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother's home. Suddenly, a
powerful wind swept in from the desert and hit the house on all sides. The
house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped
to tell you."
Job stood
up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground
before God. He said,
"I
came naked from my mother's womb,
and I will be stripped of everything
when I die.
The Lord gave me everything I had,
and the
Lord has taken it away.
Praise the
name of the Lord!"
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. (NLT)
This reading is taken from 30 Scripture Readings on Character
& Integrity. The complete book can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KYN53A
HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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