True Faith
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Job. Although it’s sad to see the pain inflicted upon him by Satan, his unchanging faith in God is truly a sight to behold, and something each and every one of us should strive for.
Job 1:1-5 starts by giving us some background on Job and his family: It tells us that he was blameless and upright; “he feared God and shunned evil”. Because of his stout devotion God had blessed him with many sons and daughters, and with riches greater than any of the people in the East. He was a truly blessed and happy man.
Job’s First Test:
Continuing, in Job 1:6-12 it says: Then one day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “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.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch our your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Satan then took all of Job’s possessions from him, killed his sons and his daughters, and left only four servants to tell Job of his misfortune. Upon learning this, Job didn’t curse God or blame Him, but fell down in worship and said:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
– Job 1:21
How many of us can say that we would fall down and worship God when trouble comes our way? Even if everything we had was taken away from us?
Job’s Second Test:
The Bible goes on to tell us: On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”
Then the LORD said to Satan, “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, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
Satan then inflicted terrible sores over every inch of Job’s body. He continued torturing him and causing him great pain for some time, yet Job’s trust in God would not be shaken. The story ends with God healing Job, giving him back all his wealth and then some, and blessing him with many more sons and daughters.
It’s easy being a Christian when everything is going well for us, but it is the terrible and unfortunate times that truly test our faith in the Lord. I pray that we all have faith like Job did; a faith so strong that even if all our loved ones and wordly treasures are stripped from our hands, we will not lose our trust in Him.
