I saw the beginning of a movie with Tommy Lee Jones playing the character of a smart guy and Samuel L. Jackson playing the character of a smarter guy. I have not watched enough to understand it, but when the smarter guy asks the smart guy if he has read the Bible, the smart guy says he has read Job. I am on the lookout for references to Job now and find them more than I ever expected. Someone in our Bible Study this morning even mentioned Job not knowing about my efforts with it. I of course liked the aspects of the movie that represent Job only as a portion of the Bible as a whole and that even “smart” people recognize Job has a lot to tell us.

Now that the Astros season is over and opening baseball card packs have been eliminated as a pastime, and I have been too lazy to find new books to read, I find myself looking for a new hobby that does not involve watching tv. I guess I could talk to my wife or my children, but those do not really feel like hobbies at all.

My notes tell me I have arrived at Job Chapter 1 verse 7.  I have included 6-12 for context.

6 One particular day, the heavenly court came into the presence of Yahweh, and the Accuser also came among them. 7 Yahweh said to the Accuser:

Where are you coming from?

The Accuser answered Yahweh saying:

From roaming the earth, and walking about in it.

8 Yahweh said to the Accuser:

Have you noticed my servant Job? There is no one like him on earth, a man blameless and upright, who reveres God, and turn’s away from evil.

9 The Accuser answered Yahweh saying:

Does Job revere God for no reason?

10 Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, around all that he has, on every side?

Have you not blessed the work of his hands so that his property spreads out all over the land?

11 And yet, reach out your hand and strike all his property, will he not blaspheme You to Your Face?

12 Yahweh replied to the Accuser:

Behold, all his property is in your power, only do not reach out your hand against the man himself.

Then the Accuser went forth from the presence of Yahweh.

 

In my mind God is having a little fun with Satan as everyone knows that God knows where Satan has been. It is like picking up your kid from school and asking where they have been. Satan responds with “roaming and walking about” that have been translated with phrases like “to and fro”, “back and forth”, and “up and down”. There is a sense of futility in these phrases that might imply Satan hates his job and wants something better. I work a lot better when I have a task to achieve and cannot imagine the lack of fulfillment I would find in job with less achievement characteristics.

Verse 9 has a lot of depth to it. I believe some of this comes from the jealousy that Satan holds for Job. Everything Job has done has turned out well. He has children that get along, he has many children and possessions, he has a relationship with God, and as we learn later, he has done all this while gaining the respect of his neighbors. There is some inkling that Satan can only do what God permits and he projects that Job who has a choice only loves God because God has made his life so wonderful. My cats love me when I give them treats, but what cat does not love treats. Satan projects an image of humans who are no better than animals and love those who love them.

Verse 11 is the challenge that Satan gives. Stop making everything great for Job (or not give the cats treats) and the selfish nature will raise its ugly head. The worst part about this challenge is that every person who tried to do this of their own accord would fail miserably just as Satan expected. This is the problem with looking at Job as a man and not as a representation of Christ or a Christian with the Holy Spirit in them. Man is not capable of living sin free after the actions of Adam and Eve. Where Job’s kids had dinner together often, of Adam’s first two kids, one murdered the other. Adam was made by God and he sinned. Only Christ who was God was truly upright and blameless.

Verse 10 shows us that God can and will put a hedge around us to protect us from the world. Just this weekend I was reminded how different my life could have been had it not been for God protecting me from all the issues that impacted others in situations similar to the ones I experienced. I pray continually that God will protect my kids and my wife.

This glimpse into the working of heaven remind us that God is in control, that He has laid out a path for our lives, and that He provides grace (blessing we do not deserve) and mercy (no punishment that we do deserve) to us for His purpose and that Satan nor the world can do anything to thwart the plans of God.