Be Prepared to Face Spiritual Challenges – Job 1:1-2:10
1 There lived a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and turned away from evil. (2) Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. (3) His possessions consisted of seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
(4) His sons used to take turns hosting feasts in their homes; and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. (5) When a round of feasting had ended, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, for he said, Perhaps my children have sinned and renounced God in their hearts. Job did this continually.
(6) One day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, Satan also came among them. (7) Jehovah said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered Jehovah, I have been roaming throughout the earth and walking here and there in it. (8) Then Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. (9) Then Satan replied to Jehovah, Does Job fear God for no reason? (10) Have you not put a hedge all around him, as well as around his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his flocks spread out over the land. (11) But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and I swear that he will renounce you to your face. (12) Jehovah said to Satan, Look; everything that he has is in your power; only do not lay your hand upon the man himself. So Satan went out from the presence of Jehovah.
(13) One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine in the oldest brother’s house, (14) a messenger came to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby (15) when the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. (16) While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the flocks and the servants, totally consuming them. I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. (17) While he was still speaking, there came yet another messenger who said, The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on the camels and captured them. They killed the servants with the sword. I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. (18) While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, Your sons and your daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, (19) when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead. I am the only one who has escaped to tell you. (20) Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. (21) He said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away, blessed be the name of Jehovah. (22) In all this, Job did not sin by foolishly accusing God of wrongdoing.
2 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them to present himself before Jehovah. (2) Jehovah said to Satan, From where have you come? Satan answered Jehovah, I have been roaming throughout the earth and walking here and there in it. (3) Then Jehovah said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity—even though you moved me to take action against him to ruin him without just cause. (4) Satan replied to Jehovah, Skin for skin! A man will give all that he has in exchange for his life. (5) But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and I swear that he will renounce you to your face. (6) Then Jehovah said to Satan, Look; he is in your hand; only spare his life.
(7) So Satan went out from the presence of Jehovah and afflicted Job with severe boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head. (8) So he took a potsherd with which to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes. (9) Then his wife said to him, Are you still maintaining your integrity? Renounce God and die! (10) But he said to her, You are speaking like one of the foolish women. Shall we only accept good from the hand of God, and shall we not accept calamity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
A note on the Scripture text that accompanies each individual message: The American Standard Version and the New International Version, along with the original Greek and Hebrew, have been used in an effort to achieve the greatest degree of accuracy and clarity. Where words or phrases have been added to the original text in an effort to better express its meaning, those words or phrases have usually been indicated by means of italics.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
