"THERE WAS. MAN IN THE LAND OF UZ": The land of Uz is often identified with the territory of Edom, which was southeast of the Dead Sea (Lamentations 4:21). Some suggest that Uz was in Bashan, south of Damascus; others say Uz lay east of Edom, in northern Arabia. From this book we learn that Uz was l... [ Continue Reading ]
"SEVEN SONS AND THREE DAUGHTERS WERE BORN TO HIM":. family of this size was common in such times, and having "seven sons" was considered. mark of divine favor (Ruth 4:15; 1 Samuel 2:5). See also Psalms 127:3; Psalms 128:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
"HIS POSSESSIONS ALSO WERE 7,000 SHEEP, 3,000 CAMELS, 500 YOKE OF OXEN, 500 FEMALE DONKEYS, AND VERY MANY SERVANTS": Here is. description of Job's prosperity. Such. large estate of livestock obviously necessitated much land and many servants. This is the property that. semi-nomadic potentate would p... [ Continue Reading ]
"HIS SONS USED TO GO AND HOLD. FEAST IN THE HOUSE OF EACH ONE ON HIS DAY": That is, on his birthday. "AND THEY WOULD SEND AND INVITE THEIR THREE SISTERS TO EAT AND DRINK WITH THEM": Job had. very close-knit family. We are not told if the sons were married, and if the sisters were still single they w... [ Continue Reading ]
"WHEN THE DAYS OF FEASTING HAD COMPLETED THEIR CYCLE": At the end of each cycle of birthdays? "JOB WOULD SEND AND CONSECRATE THEM, RISING UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND OFFERING BURNT OFFERINGS ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THEM ALL; FOR JOB SAID, 'PERHAPS MY SONS HAVE SINNED AND CURSED GOD IN THEIR HEART... [ Continue Reading ]
"NOW THERE WAS. DAY WHEN THE SONS OF GOD CAME TO PRESENT THEMSELVES BEFORE THE LORD": The "sons of God" in this verse are angels (Job 38:7), and the term "present" means literally to "station" themselves, that is to report on their activities. Clearly God governs the universe and in this council ses... [ Continue Reading ]
"THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, 'FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?'": This is not ignorance on God's part, but rather "it becomes. point of encounter (Exodus 4:2)" _(Strauss p. 6). _ "Then Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it'": "Apparently looking for those who... [ Continue Reading ]
"THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, 'HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB?'" That is, considered him as an object of your temptations? Please note, God is not placing. bet on Job or using his as. worthless pawn. God is setting forth Job as. rebuke to Satan's rebellion. Satan could not dominate this man! Could Go... [ Continue Reading ]
"THEN SATAN ANSWERED THE LORD, 'DOES JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOTHING?... [ Continue Reading ]
"HAVE YOU NOT MADE. HEDGE ABOUT HIM AND HIS HOUSE AND ALL THAT HE HAS, ON EVERY SIDE? YOU HAVE BLESSED THE WORK OF HIS HANDS, AND HIS POSSESSIONS HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAND... [ Continue Reading ]
"BUT PUT FORTH YOUR HAND NOW AND TOUCH ALL THAT HE HAS; HE WILL SURELY CURSE YOU TO YOUR FACE""Cynicism is. natural result of Satan's inner character. In contrast to God's enthusiastic recommendation of Job, Satan scoffs" _(McKenna p. 38)._ Are we cynical? People who argue that all Christians are se... [ Continue Reading ]
"THEN THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, 'BEHOLD, ALL THAT HE HAS IS IN YOUR POWER, ONLY DO NOT PUT FORTH YOUR HAND ON HIM'. SO SATAN DEPARTED FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD" Some stumble over this verse and wonder, "Doesn't God already know the motives of His children? Why does He need to find them out?" Yet,... [ Continue Reading ]
Satan begins his assaults on the very day when Job's 10 children were feasting. The _Sabeans (suh BEE uhnz),_ may have been from the region of Sheba in southwest Arabia, or from the town called Sheba, near Dedan, in upper Arabia (Genesis 10:7; Job 25:3). "The speed with which God allows Satan to aff... [ Continue Reading ]
"THE FIRE OF GOD": This is not. reference to Divine wrath, but probably refers to lightening. In this section we learn that Satan, when given latitude, can move both men and nature to serve his purposes.... [ Continue Reading ]
"THE CHALDEANS": "Were fierce, marauding inhabitants from Mesopotamia" _(Zuck p. 16)._ At this point in history the Chaldeans are. marauding tribe. "From the ninth century B.C.., when they first appear in the Assyrian records, to the period when they provided the rulers of the neo-Babylonian empire... [ Continue Reading ]
"WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING": Notice the rapid-fire presentation of one tragedy after another.... [ Continue Reading ]
"A GREAT WIND": Suggests something like. tornado or whirling wind that gained in momentum as it came across the desert. "IT FELL ON THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY DIED": Job's children are grown and yet they are still young. "A man's children are dearer than any earthly treasure. Ten funerals! How can he... [ Continue Reading ]
"THEN JOB AROSE AND TORE HIS ROBE AND SHAVED HIS HEAD": Both of these gestures are not the product of sinful anger, but they are expressions of grief and shock (Genesis 37:29; Genesis 44:13; Judges 11:35; Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 48:27). "AND HE FELL TO THE GROUND": Not in despair, but in worship! "In.... [ Continue Reading ]
"HE SAID, 'NAKED. CAME FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB, AND NAKED. SHALL RETURN THERE. THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HAS TAKEN AWAY. BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD'" How. man responds to tragedy does reveal the inner spirit of. man. On the day that Job lost everything, he worshipped! He thanked God for all his... [ Continue Reading ]
"THROUGH ALL THIS JOB DID NOT SIN NOR DID HE BLAME GOD": Yes, devotion is possible without any physical favors and there are people like Job that will serve God simply because they love Him. Is this our level of devotion is this truly our motivation? Or do we complain when the littlest thing goes wr... [ Continue Reading ]