Job 2

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’ So Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.’” Job 2:3-6 (NKJV)

Many followers of Jesus have a superstitious wariness concerning the book of Job.  It is as if once they read the book, God will have a similar conversation with Satan about them! I know I feared reading the book of Job for many years. My fear was mostly centered on my misconception that God exists solely to make me happy and give me a life of worldly abundance. I did not want to face the truth that God’s great plan and purpose for my life may include my suffering for His gospel!

These first two chapters of Job are some of the most dreaded chapters in the Bible and pretty much single-handedly dismantle the “prosperity” gospel.

Something that profoundly leaped out of today’s chapter was Satan’s argument against Job that a man will give up everything he has to save his life. What was so interesting is that Satan’s argument was exactly the opposite of what Jesus did. Jesus, the Creator of all that is (John 1), left His position of power, honor, and glory to offer up His life for us.

“The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 (HCSB)

Furthermore, Satan argued that if he were allowed to curse Job’s flesh, Job would curse God to his face. Again, this is precisely the opposite of Jesus’ response, even at the pinnacle of His suffering.

“And Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.’  Saying this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46 (HCSB)

Whereas Job’s life was spared, Jesus’ life was not. That meant that His sacrificial atonement was complete! And we know that it pleased God to see Jesus honor Him all the way through His suffering, as evidenced by the Father’s testimony upon Jesus’ resurrection.

“Now to which of the angels has God ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?” Hebrews 1:13 (NIV)