God was pleased with the piety of Job, but Satan accredited the piety to Job's prosperity and happiness. So a trial was made. See how each succeeding affliction visited on Job shook the depths of his nature, and how he survived.
Read from THE BOOK OF JOB Vol. 44, pp. 71-87
Well, theres God, Satan, Job and Job's familiy and estates. I think the away team could have dealt with the invaders and arranged some weather control from space, but that would not have helped the story along.
Interesting that God specifically removes his protection - which had been granted because of Job's virtuousness and obviously covered his estates - from all except Job himself, and gives Satan a free hand.
Also interesting because of my work; I talked to a woman today who met the Devil recently, and the 'devil on one shoulder, angel on the other' is such a daily theme I give out a handout on it.
I suppose it all leaves us with the feeling that if God could allow Satan to cause such harm to win an argiement, what hope is there? I mean WHF does he care what the Devil thinks anyway?
I'd like to hear the bit just after where he says well done to Job and explains why his family had to die.
"You see, Satan came along and we got talking and, well, we had this sort of bet, d'you see, and.."
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I feel Job is simply a form of felix culpa.
ReplyDeleteGod uses Job's misfortune as a greater teachable moment, to show all present the absurdity of arguing against God that life "isn't fair". At least that is how it reads to me.
As for his family, imagine it as sort of how a company might be sent against their enemy in war by their General, the General knowing they won't be successful, and that they will all die, but that their assault would have an a tremendous effect on the outcome of the war. So they go on with their attack thinking it isn't fair and that their lives are just being wasted, not seeing the eventual victory they are responsible for.
In such a case, would it be right for them to argue with their General that it "wasn't fair"?
Of course, if you wanted to take religion out of it completely and consider it only in terns of philosophy, even an atheist could make of it a simple parable on how ridiculous it is to argue that life is unfair with the Universe, and you will get good and bad as is your measure. So peace comes not with fairness, but acceptance of your fate.