Book of Job describes much more than just loyalty to God

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The battle between good and evil, that is, Jesus Christ versus Satan, that has been going on for around 6,000 years, is not fought without “rules.” God maintains complete control over every aspect. This is at least very reassuring. Just as God does not force anyone, the adversary may not act arbitrarily either. Job says a lot about this. Rather, it is up to man himself how and for whom he will ultimately decide. This apostelmakes all the difference. Either glorifying God or becoming a willing servant of the adversary.

Mostly only the best known parts of the Book of Job

Job is often used to present the “model believer.” After all, the book contains 42 chapters, but only the essence is presented. The good and faithful Job is tested, passes, and is rewarded at the end. That’s it. But even the first two chapters contain far more information than just the description of a tormented man who remained faithful to God.

Satan appears before God and discusses what he would like to do with Job.

Job 1:7:
“Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

Job 1:11:
“But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.”

Job 1:12:
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand.”

The “origin” of the “Job’s news”

The adversary wasted no time and laid the foundation for the expression “Job’s News,” which has long been a synonym for terrible news. One after another, messengers arrived at Job’s house and reported the damage he had suffered, which could also be described as blows of fate.

The first attack

The first messenger reported a raid on the cattle herds and the murder of servants. Another reported a fire “let loose by God” that fell from heaven and burned both sheep and servants. A third messenger arrived and reported an attack on the keepers of the camels and sheep. Everything stolen, all killed. The fourth brought the news that a strong wind had swept through the tent where Job’s sons and daughters were. All of Job’s children died.

Job, however, did not curse God, but tore his garment, shaved his head, and cried out in prayer:
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)

The second attack

For Satan, Job’s behavior was a setback. Therefore, the adversary wanted to go one step further and cause Job even greater problems, so that he would abandon his faith and trust in God. Now Satan wanted to personally attack the faithful servant Job and harm his health. But Job couldn’t do that simply because God had to grant His permission for this. Satan received this permission, but with restrictions.

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” (Job 2:6).

For Job, this resulted in nasty sores all over his body. He tried to alleviate this torment by applying ash and scratching himself with pottery shards. Job’s wife was not exactly supportive in his torment. She gave Job the following advice:
“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9)

The Happy Ending

But Job didn’t let this bother him, let alone dissuade him from God. He remained faithful to the Lord and rebuked his wife. At the end of chapter 42, there’s a “happy ending,” for Job received back many times his previous possessions and lived a full and fulfilled life until his end.

But there’s more to it

A passage from the Book of Job that is regularly taught as a simple example to emphasize Job’s faithfulness to God. A positive example of his unshakable faith. Fundamentally correct. But that’s usually all it takes. However, the few verses mentioned alone contain some further information that is essential and significant in light of current and future developments.

• When the adversary roams the earth and walks about on it, it is an expression of his claim to ownership and dominion. Like a lord of the manor, he traverses “his land.”

• Satan cannot do as he pleases. He needs God’s permission, and even then, only within a clearly defined framework. Another detail describes that Satan certainly has the power to use natural forces for his own purposes. Be it storms or fires, of whatever kind, he can influence them and even direct them against humans. Another aspect, which is less surprising, is that Satan’s actions are never “productive,” but always aim at destruction, annihilation, and ruin.

• An unleashed adversary and with him his fallen angels would have leveled God’s creation long ago, for: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44).

Satan wanted more if he could

As soon as the adversary opens his mouth, untruths emerge, and this harms creation and humanity. His entire hatred is directed against Jesus Christ and the entire world He created. After all, mankind has received something from God that Satan desires: dominion over “something.” While Satan, in his megalomania, claims the reign and position over the stars of the far north, the bottom line is that, apart from his own desires, he hasn’t actually acquired anything of the sort. Mankind, on the other hand, should exercise dominion over the rest of this world’s creation, which is subject to him.

“For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:5-9)

Man himself fuels the adversary

It is essentially man himself who feeds and ultimately fuels Satan’s claims to rule this world. It is precisely whose laws and thus authority are recognized. As trivial as it sounds, with the seduction of Eve and ultimately Adam, Satan has brought all of humanity (at that time) to his side. And with them, creation, which has been laid at man’s feet.

As far as human thought can comprehend, it is quite possible that the adversary, in his furious rage, is torn between the prophecy of his end, which he is well aware of (e.g., Revelation 20), and the attempt to win everyone over to his side after all. Even though he knows that he has little time left (Revelation 12:12).

Whatever the case, one can assume with a surety that this drama, which has been ongoing for some 6,000 years, will come to an end, and very soon. Precisely in the way described in the Gospel.

It is also man who, through his faithfulness to God, despite all adversities and challenges, proves God’s justice (Info). The glorification of God is, among other things, what Job demonstrated so exemplarily: faithfulness, obedience, and the obeying of God’s law out of true faith.

The proven justice of God

With a single stroke of His hand (or breath of His mouth), God could have swept away the adversary. Nothing at all would have been gained by doing so. The seeds of doubt due to Satan’s countless accusations had already been sown (see Ezekiel 28:16). While there would have been “peace in the stable,” this would only be for a relatively short time, for obedience born of love toward God would have given way to the weeds of obedience born of fear and anxiety.

Therefore, God wants all His creatures to recognize His righteousness and not merely “presume” it. This also proves that Satan’s accusations are completely unjustified and that his “rules of freedom” only bring death and destruction. A look at this earth and the conditions found there is irrefutable proof.

“for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (1 Corinthians 4:9).

Interim balance:

To summarize the statements contained in the Job passage:

• The adversary claims ownership of humanity and the earth.
• Satan needs permission for the nature and extent of his work.
• The adversary can use natural forces for his own purposes.
• Satan’s goal is always destruction and ruin for humanity.
• Essence: God has everything under control.

Balance – “Fair Play”

Satan’s ongoing war between good and evil would proceed without any rules, let alone “decency,” if God weren’t in control. In an instant, the adversary would have had humanity on his side without exception. He would have eradicated everything that opposed him. The dark Middle Ages in Europe, dictated by papal Rome, demonstrate this principle. The boundaries set by God could also be expressed in modern terms as “fair play.”

God does not force anyone to be happy

God does not force anyone to accept the gospel. He knocks on the conscience of the person through His Holy Spirit, and the person ultimately decides whether to listen or continue his own will. However, the Holy Spirit becomes highly active in the person when he is asked for and allowed in. This is the person’s express desire, and God will gladly use His power. Jesus Christ never spoke of kicking down a person’s door to enter; He will “only” knock:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

God leaves man free will.

Satan would choke if he could

Conversely, Satan does not have God’s permission to simply impose his will on people, manipulate them, or even possess them. The adversary certainly has the power to do so. However, he “knocks,” usually in a subtle way. This is precisely the temptation. If a person opens his door, Satan doesn’t hesitate for a moment and enters without accomplishing anything. Like a persistent “vacuum cleaner salesman,” he keeps his foot in the doorframe, so that the door can no longer be simply closed.

The adversary finds wide-open doors in people who, for example, are involved in occultism or spiritualism (Info), live in constant sin, are subject to generational sin (up to the third and fourth generation – Exodus 20:5), or have completely surrendered to the ways of this world. It can also affect aspects of life where Satan can still keep his foothold in the doorway.

Thus, the adversary has received his leeway over the person from the person themselves.

Even in the nature and extent of temptations, God has set limits for the adversary.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Ability to distinguish between good and evil

At this point, however, it’s up to man himself. Exposed to temptations and especially deceptions, man needs a model, a standard, to even recognize temptations and deceptions as such. To identify a forgery, knowledge of the original is required.

This immutable standard, the model, or the original, is the Gospel, the written Word of God. If one doesn’t know it, or only individual excerpts, perhaps placed in the wrong context according to “fair-weather sermons,” then one is truly at a disadvantage when it comes to being able to deflect any forgery, armed with the truth.

Nothing without prior notice

There is another aspect to this, and this can not only be observed but should be treated far more than simply acknowledging it.

God never initiates major measures without prior announcement. Prophets are God’s messengers. He sends them to warn, rebuke, and lead people back to the right path. Prophets, like God’s law, are fundamental. The “two witnesses” in Revelation 11 represent the law and the prophets. Jesus Christ repeatedly mentioned both aspects in connection (e.g., Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44). Law and prophets are also mentioned in the same breath in numerous other biblical passages, e.g., Acts 24:14; 28:23; Romans 3:21; Matthew 7:12; 11:13.

God also uses His prophets for prophecies and announcements.
“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

As with Job – announcement also Satan’s duty

Just as the adversary has no right to directly manipulate people without their permission, it seems self-evident that Satan, too, is required to announce his plans in advance. Just as Job stood before God to explain his will toward Job. God either permits it or disallows it, or sets clear boundaries.

Isn’t it actually the case that major injustices, adversities, incidents, and the like were described and thus announced in some way beforehand? Be it through “simulated training measures,” via Hollywood-made screen scenes, or literature. One such recent “coincidence” is the film “Snake Eyes” (1998). In it, a “Charlie Kirkland” is assassinated on September 10th. Equally impressive was the “pandemic exercise” in the fall of 2019, which involved a fictitious virus called “coronavirus.”

Furthermore, the satanic background of many music, film, and sporting events is becoming increasingly visible and blatantly exposed. It’s no longer a secret who their “master” actually is. It seems almost a “norm” these days; it’s “cool” and “totally trendy.”

Re-sort priorities

So, keep your eyes open and your ears pricked, in both directions. This “only” requires re-evaluating your personal priorities in everyday life. What is truly important to you? After all, this is a battle with a very, very lasting outcome. The signs point to a storm. The “four angels” at the ends of the earth are still holding the four winds (Revelation 7), but soon voices will be heard again, clearly expressing God’s intentions.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:” (Joel 2:28)

This prophecy, dreams, and seeing visions are connected to the “latter rain.” An outpouring of the Holy Spirit, such as the apostles received at Pentecost. This also extends to the final warning of the Three Angels’ Message.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)

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