5.18 Job 1-3

Jeff Wenta

5.18.1010

Job 1-3

In Job 1, 2 and 3 we jump back more than 1,000 years in time from Esther’s era to an era before Abraham. Through the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves as observers of a heavenly council where God initiates a conversation with Satan about someone he is particularly proud of – Job.  Satan accuses Job of not having pure motives for following God’s ways so God allows him to try to expose “the truth”.  This results in very real back-to-back tragedies and physical pain for Job – yet he still held on to his integrity and “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job then speaks about his great suffering, first diving into an eloquent curse of the day he was born and then a philosophical Q & A session where he asks questions that we all must deal with in our own walks with God.

One key verse is Job 2:3

“Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him: he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.  And he still maintains his integrity…” (NIV)

These chapters helped me to better understand the God who created me because I found that he listed many great qualities of this mere man. In another translation – “He is a man of integrity: he is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil.  And he holds on to his principles.” (NOG) reinforcing what I read about him earlier this year, “the LORD’s eyes scan the whole world to strengthen those who are committed to him with all their hearts.” (2 Chron 16:9 CEB)  He strengthens but now he also knows and lists our great qualities!

This helps me to better refine the way I look at myself and those around me.  We are all works in progress with many things that need to be molded and shaped but God shared in his circles about Job’s great qualities.

As I walk through life today I will compile an ongoing list of great qualities of each person I interact with on paper and transfer them later to my journal.  This goes for myself as well – I will still need to have a sober view of what I need to change but not lose sight of the great qualities God has helped develop in me.

Like Job, Jesus suffered much tragedy by experiencing loss after loss, agonizing pain and, in addition, the limit was removed to not take his life.  Yet in his great suffering he looked at those around him and did not accuse them: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). Jesus was still holding on to his integrity because he saw them as God does.  Why shouldn’t we?