Let’s return to the prologue, vis-à-vis to chapters one and two of the Book of Job once more. Here we find that God addresses a being called the satan. Meaning ‘the enemy’ or ‘the adversary.’ Folks can believe whatever they wish about this being, but I do not recognize him as a spirit being who rebelled against God either before or after the creation of mankind. None of the references to satan, the devil or the serpent show that he is an evil angel. That said, and for the purpose of this study, I’ll hereafter refer to him as the adversary. So, let’s look at what took place between him and the Lord. God spoke with the adversary and pointed to Job, asking if he had considered how Job behaved. God claimed Job was the Lord’s servant, and said he was the most righteous man on earth (Job 1:8). That, in itself, says a great deal about Job, and what we’ve studied about him thus far. Nevertheless, the adversary painted a different picture.
He replied to God by saying, Job was nothing more than an opportunist. He knows that, if he does the right things and says the right words, he’ll be blessed. Why wouldn’t he serve you under those conditions? The adversary also pointed out that God put a hedge of protection about Job, so that all his goods were safe. No one could hurt Job, because God protected him (Job 1:9-11). Therefore, the Lord agreed to allow the adversary to destroy Job’s family and wealth (Job 1:12).
Now, lets’ pause here and ask a few questions about what has taken place. God tells the adversary that Job is his servant, and he is righteous, but the adversary disagrees. He claims Job does what he does for God, because the Lord pays him so well and protects both his family and his wealth. We’ve been studying this book for some time now, and the discussion is over between Job, the friends and Elihu. God was next to speak, but before we consider what the Lord said, we need to consider once more what took place in the prologue of the book. Did God agree with the adversary, and, therefore, he reached out to correct (judge) Job, or did God disagree with the adversary and let him do his worst to prove God’s point? Well, it doesn’t seem likely that God agreed with the adversary, because when he appeared before the Lord a second time, God brought Job up once more, calling him his servant, and saying he was the most righteous man on earth. He feared God and avoided wickedness. Moreover, the Lord claimed the adversary “moved (him; God, the Judge) against Job without a cause” (Job 2:3). In other words, God spoke the truth about Job. The adversary was wrong and the reasons he used to “move” the Lord against him were false. The adversary had no legitimate cause to destroy Job.
So, if, indeed, Job was righteous, did God allow his destruction, simply to prove a point to the adversary? If so, what kind of God would he be that he would toy with one of his servants to prove a point to an adversary who wasn’t willingly serve the Lord? If this isn’t a logical point of view, does the Lord have an ulterior motive behind what has taken place? If God does have a hidden motive, what is it, and wouldn’t such a thing mean, however unintentional, the adversary ends up serving the will of God to bring about the Lord’s hidden purpose?
We’ve already discussed in a previous study what that hidden purpose might be.[1] For now, it is sufficient to say that the Lord had a far greater purpose in mind, when he agreed to permit the adversary to destroy Job’s family, his wealth and his health. Nevertheless, what God wanted to do or to cause Job to understand, had nothing to do with judging him for wicked behavior. What occurs to Job is similar to what occurs in the potter’s workplace. The Potter/God molds the pot/Job into a vessel that pleases the Potter/God. Just as the potter has a right over the clay to do as he pleases, so too, does God have authority over Job, and ultimately so, over us.
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[1] See my study: What Was Wrong With Job?
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