I will attempt to tell the story of Job in 442 words; I have already used up eighteen.
Job was blameless and upright, he feared God and shunned evil. Satan appears before God, and God points out his servant Job. Satan says Job’s position is because God has put a hedge around him and blessed him. Satan says, “Stretch out Your hand and touch everything he has, and Job will curse You to Your face.”
Satan is given access and Job losses everything, but worships instead of sinning with his lips. Satan comes back for a second try in afflicting Job’s body with painful boils. Job’s wife say’s “Curse God and die!” Job doesn’t.
Job’s four friends Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu arrive. Job curses the day he was born. Eliphaz hears a word from Satan accusing Job (Job 4:12-19). Accusations ensue, Job defends himself, deeper and deeper it gets.
Elihu speaks in chapter 32. He is upset because Job “Justified himself rather than God.’ Elihu is upset with Job’s three friends because “They found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.” Job is schooled by Elihu for five chapters. Then the Lord answers Job out of the whirlwind, and says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” Job 38:2, 3
God reveals His sovereignty, and majesty. Job’s response “Behold I am vile; What shall I answer you? I lay my hand over my mouth. Job 40:4 Second round of questioning begins. God answers Job out of the whirlwind: Would you annul My judgment? Have you an arm like God? Look upon everyone who is proud and humble him? Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook? Levithan’s heart is hard as stone…He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.
Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2-6
Job prays for his friends and the Lord restored Job’s loses when he prayed for His friends. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning – double.
For Doreen Dittmar’s Testimony (May 30, 1992), her Memorial Service and Slide Show, Click here.
