Above you posted only a part of a statement i made and omitted the part where i said that after chapter two, the book is about job attempting to reconcile the events that happened to him with his loyalty to god you disallowed my entire response to jason and. The meaning of the book of job is found in gods and satans conversation in heaven. People and livestock who werent even involved died job 1. In the book of job, satan comments on jobs devotion to god. Where does the communication between god and satan take place. What happened to satan in the book of job after jobs agony. Hshtn or hashatan in hebrew simply means the adversary. Satan more literally, the adversary in job is a minor character. Job, knowing he is innocent, concludes that god must be unjust.
Was the book of job a mindgame satan played on god. Job the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of job god did not give satan power biblebro. In the book of job, satan and the christian god conspire together to tempt job into cursing the christian god. Of peninah it is written, and her rival provoked her sore for to make her fret. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was basically an argument between god and satan.
But the book of job makes no suggestion that god inherently desires anyone to live in poverty. Satan answered the lord, from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. Satan, the thief, has come to kill, steal, and destroy john 10. During the report, god draws attention to jobs righteousness, only to have satan retort that job is faithful to god solely because of all that god gives him. As job was already as perfect as he could be without seeing god as he really is. Some bible commentators have professed great difficulty in understanding and explaining how satan could have access to heaven in job chapters 1 and 2, as well as in revelation chapter 12. John walton, the book of job adapted quote the big question most people walk away with after reading job 12 is, why did god allow job to undergo such suffering. The lord said to satan, have you noticed my servant job. In this weeks sermon, the historical dating and literary criticism is commented on in the beginning. A person feels as if something came upon him, and as if he had received a new power that encourages him to speak. The nkjv says, the workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created, although the exact meaning of this difficult hebrew text is uncertain. So what should we say in response to the question, why did god allow satan to harm job. Does this imply that satan can withstand in the presence of god and can freely talk to him at any time.
In the book of job, as best as i can see, god ruined job s life over a bet job 1. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict him. Debateachristian submitted 5 years ago by basilides ignostic. Rambam writes in moreh nevuchim guide to the perplexed, 2. If job was blameless, why did god allow satan to afflict. Jun, 2017 this question implies a misunderstanding of the attributes of the god of the bible. This is the only killing in the bible that satan had anything to do with. Satan, when he saw god inclined to favour job said, far be it that god should forget the love of abraham. If satan can get job to believe he is being punished by god, job may be caught in either of two snares.
And prior to satans creation by the unknown author of job which is simply a moral tale, not actual history, god was often described as. Satan was there and a conversation ensued about job s goodness. The book of job begins with a prologue job 12, which describes a wager between satan and god, in which satan the adversary bets god that joba. God sees satan, talks with satan, and even agrees to let satan have his way with job which i actually have some major problems with, but that is a topic for a different post. The book is often understood as an exploration of the question of theodicy that is, how god can be declared just in the light of innocent suffering. There are at least five questions asked in the book of. Job 1 gnt satan tests job there was a man named bible. An amazing test of faith or gods bet with the devil. God talking to satan in the book of job,how did they know. It was orchestrated by god to show billions of people, who would read and hear about this account throughout the ages, that satan can do nothing without gods authorization and consent.
Did satan obey god in not killing job because he chose to, or would god have. God brags to satan about jobs virtue, but satan contends that job is only righteous because god has favored him generously. And, god isnt a cruel gambler, giving into satan s evil desires. It was orchestrated by god to show billions of people, who would read and hear about this account throughout the ages, that satan can do nothing without god s authorization and consent. In the beginning was the word and the kingdom of the lord god. Satan answered the lord, i have been roaming all over the earth. So it is in fact true that young disagrees with this idea. Satan says to god that if he removes the blessings he has so richly bestowed on job, he will curse you to your face job 1. He cannot go beyond what god permits, and when his time period is ended, god turns the captivity of job job 42. He certainly isnt raining down sunshine, rainbows, and love. Because, ultimately, this fight is between job and god. In the page 621 he refers to hurvits conclusion that the ebh in the book of job present was to mark his story with patriarchal colouring and refutes it. The book of job study guide book of job 1 what deal does god strike with satan why that satan can do anything he wants to job except kill him and this. In the book of job, satan comments on jobs devotion to.
In the absence of answers, job has been held up as a model of quiet faithfulness. When he presents himself to god and his divine court and god asks him how his life is going, satan always replies that hes been hanging out on earth. How could that god let that evil hatefilled entity, virtually destroy jobs life. One of the most puzzling books in the bible is the book of job. And prior to satan s creation by the unknown author of job which is simply a moral tale, not actual history, god was often described as being a satan. In hebrew, satan actually means the accuser or the prosecutor, and he is referred to as the satan, not just satan. As evident in the book of job, satan works for god and serves his purpose of providing us an adversary for the purpose of perfecting us, and as an executioner of god s judgement against sin. The book of job begins with a prologue job 12, which describes a wager between satan and god, in which satan the adversary bets god that joba particularly pious manwill abandon his piety and curse god if all his wealth and wellbeing are taken away. Remember, god doesnt inflict anything nasty on job with his own divine power. For one thing, god asked satan, have you considered my servant, job. Job sets before us a universe in which god is completely sovereign, and yet in which he governs the world partly through the paradoxical agency of evil.
But although the job of the story was from the land of uz, and its main character was a kind of jordanian abraham, we cannot help but think of him as the hebrew everyman, grappling with the question of gods fairness. Why is job, a loyal servant to god, placed in such tragic conditions after being so loyal for any reason at all, especially the folly of satan. What the bible says about satans power limited by god. And it really does not give us the kind of answer we want, but just says, trust me. If anything, job s satan is most similar to the satan of the book of zechariah, written in the early second temple period, which may indicate that job was written during the same period the late 6th century bce or the early 5th bce. Job would, if he knew the plot hatched in heaven against him, consider satan the worst sort of enemy. Jun, 2014 this is not going to be a popular answer. Job was a good and righteous man who lived his life in accordance to the way of the lord who was and is jesus christ see genesis 1. Satan in job is those who oppose god s opinion of righteous job. Thomas explores the difficulty of job s suffering, satan s involvement, and god s sovereignty. Aug 02, 2010 t he mainstream jewish view of satan emanates from the book of job. Great question, i was actually wondering the same thing for a while until i did some reading. So it can also be assumed that satan and the christian god conspired together in the book of genesis. Similarly, the book of job does not mention reward and punishment in the afterlife.
Then satan answered the lord, and said, doth job fear god for nought. Well, god says, lets see, and he gives satan permission to ruin jobs life. Satan is a spiritual being whose limits appear clearly in the story. Satan tells god that job is only virtuous because he is well off. What does the book of job teach us about the sovereignty. Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was. The book of job is where satan, the literary device, makes his first appearance. The book of job describes job as a pious, godfearing. The book of job begins by introducing us to its three most significant characters. How could god create a character that becomes satan. A surface reading of the book of job usually evokes a reaction such as why is god making a bet with the devil. Also, god told satan that he could bring various disasters upon job but could not kill him.
Also, if judaism has no concept of the devil and hell how is the presence of satan explained. If your answer has anything to do with why the righteous suffer, youre probably answering. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job in. The book of job in the hebrew bible was crafted to address human suffering and why bad things happen to good people. Satan was there and a conversation ensued about jobs goodness. What does the book of job teach us about the sovereignty of god. Satan challenges god by stating that job will denounce god if afflicted. In the book of job, it is stated many times that satan questioned in his presence the righteousness of gods servant job and challenged him to put job to the test. Satan tempts job satan smiting job with boils william blake. All of this is to say that the satan in the book of job cannot be entirely identified with the devil or satan in the new testament. In the book of job, how was it possible for god and satan to. In essence, god and the devil have a discussion about job, a most pious man.
Jan 18, 2014 but although the job of the story was from the land of uz, and its main character was a kind of jordanian abraham, we cannot help but think of him as the hebrew everyman, grappling with the question of gods fairness. So when satan comes into the presence of god in job 1, god is not threatened by satan. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. God allowed satan to afflict job in what he had, but not on job himself. The earliest clear reference to this divine council is in the book of job. Oct 19, 2015 in this weeks sermon, the historical dating and literary criticism is commented on in the beginning. Why did god ask satan if he had considered his servant, job. Satan is seen as the adversary or prosecutor, an agent of gd, very much part of the divine council, that searches out the. Important questions asked in the book of job introduction. A casual reading of the verse seems to indicate that they are spiritual in nature, for satan himself is listed among them. In the book of job, as best as i can see, god ruined jobs life over a bet job 1. If anything, jobs satan is most similar to the satan of the book of zechariah, written in the early second temple period, which may indicate that job was written during the same period the late 6th century bce or the early 5th bce. As a result, job s possessions were plundered or destroyed and his servants and children killed. Oct 08, 2014 so what should we say in response to the question, why did god allow satan to harm job.
God sees satan, talks with satan, and even agrees to let satan have his way with job which i actually have some major problems with, but that is a topic for a. You must understand who god is and who satan is, what they know, and what their motivation is. What does this tell us about the place of evil in the world. Why did god ask satan if he had considered his servant. The entire bible was written with the inspiration of. Its crucial to realize that the satan is not a sinister figure bent on hurting job. The sons of god a term often used for angels report to yahweh. Analysis this is a key passage for setting the stage for all that follows. So, the question is why would god allow satan to do this. Satan s a catalyst, sure, but the moral of the story lies in mans relationship with god. Some scholars think it may have been written by moses, and perhaps it could have been, while some date it as late as the time of solomon. In the book of job, it is stated many times that satan questioned in his presence the righteousness of god s servant job and challenged him to put job to the test.
What happened to satan in the book of job after jobs. The common belief that god gives power to satan by permission to test our faith or teach us some lesson is one reason that many believers in christ have departed from the faith or resent god. In the book of job, satan is sent by god to torment job. God rejects such a jaded view of job and to prove gods point allows satan to test jobs faithfulness by taking away all the good things in his life. May 30, 2007 the book of job is where satan, the literary device, makes his first appearance. In it, satan is a member of gods divine court who walks the earth looking for sin and reports back to god. The book of job study guide book of job 1 what deal does. Having satan do the dirty work is a very greekmythology thing to doyou know, let a demigod do the dirty work, then assert your dominance anyway. God allowed satan to tempt job to the limits of his endurance, but the passage becomes more interesting and compelling when cast as a debate between. In the book of job, satan and the christian god conspire. The book of job is, perhaps, the oldest book in the bible. Both satan and peninah had a pious purpose in acting as adversaries. God and satan had an interesting interaction, as recorded in the book of job.
The dialogue between god and satan about job was, by no means, a friendly conversation. The following is what we get when we meld the first two chapters of job into genesis 2 and 3 providing a back story to the fall of man. Before he set the world into motion, he knew the events of the last days of the earth. The chances of his confronting us individually are small in comparison to the influences of our everpresent hearts and the world in which we conduct our lives. But it also makes us think of satan as the bad guy. I said the book of job isnt about god foiling satans plan. Oct 30, 2014 then satan answered the lord, and said, doth job fear god for nought. Whoever they were, they had an appointment to present themselves before god. It is a very profound book and in many ways it touches upon.
Of course this invalidates the idea that the ebh in the book of job is to lend authenticity. Satan said job was righteous because god had given him so many blessings. Satan began to distress job with a series of calamities that were clearly not coincidences or mere natural disasters. Now there was a day when the sons of god came to present themselves before the lord, and satan came also among them.
How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job in job 1. No, god did not stretch forth his hand and burn up jobs flocks in a lightning storm. This question implies a misunderstanding of the attributes of the god of the bible. He appears in the first two chapters and is not heard from again. The book of job begins with a prologue job 12, which describes a wager between satan and god, in which satan the adversary bets god that job a particularly pious manwill abandon his piety and curse god if all his wealth and wellbeing are taken away. Even the snake in the genesis account is an anthropomorphism of eves intellect as in ancient egyptian mythology the snake sym. Thomas explores the difficulty of jobs suffering, satans involvement, and gods sovereignty. Aug 27, 20 so when satan comes into the presence of god in job 1, god is not threatened by satan. As a result, jobs possessions were plundered or destroyed and his servants and children killed.
The sacred author could have said, god allowed satan to tempt job to the limits of his endurance, but the passage becomes more interesting and compelling when cast as a debate between god and satan over the fate of gods faithful servant, job. No red skin, no horns, no pointy teeth and tail, and no devilish grin. The story of job gods bet with the devil religious forums. Mar 15, 2009 in the book of job, satan comments on jobs devotion to god. Retired new york university liberal studies program in preparing to write my book, wrestling with god. God s hedge must be lifted which job clearly does not discern job 3. Why are we so preoccupied with the book of job in a book about satan. He retains his piety throughout the story belying satans suspicion that his righteousness is due. Job defends his integrity available at, i was both frustrated and encouraged by my studies. How could satan reenter heaven to talk to god about job. As evident in the book of job, satan works for god and serves his purpose of providing us an adversary for the purpose of perfecting us, and as an executioner of gods judgement against sin. In the book of job, how was it possible for god and satan. Satan tests job there was a man named job, living in the land of uz, who worshiped god and was faithful to him. The objective of the book of job is not to teach a comprehensive view of the workings of satan.
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