Sun.’s Devo - Job’s Test

Read: Job 1:1-3:26; 1 Corinthians 14:1-17; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 21:25-26 Job lived in the land of Uz, which means “counsel”. He was a wise counselor himself and the richest in his area. He had an impeccable reputation with man and with God. One day, God met with his heavenly court and Satan came also to report. When it was his time, God asked him what he had been doing. He had been patrolling the earth. God asked him if he had noticed Job who was the finest man in all the earth in God’s opinion. The Accuser accused God of putting a hedge of protection around him so, of course, he feared God. He wondered what would happen to Job if God removed his protection and let the devil in. He thought Job would curse God to his face. God took Satan up on his challenge and gave him permission to take whatever he wanted from Job, but not to harm him. Satan took everything. He took his farm animals, killed his servants and stole his camels. He even killed all his children. Job mourned, but he worshiped the Lord. At the next meeting of the heavenly court, God spoke to Satan again about Job. He commended Job for doing exactly what he thought he would do. Job had stayed true to the Lord and not fallen into sin and blaming God. Satan said it was because no harm had come to Job that he still trusted God. If he was able to harm his body, Job would not stand. God took the challenge and told Satan he could harm his body, just not kill him. Satan put terrible boils all over Job’s body. Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. He told her she was foolish and refused to blame God. Job had three “friends” who heard of his tragedy and the came to comfort and console him. They should have stayed home. When they saw Job and saw for themselves all he had lost, they sat with him in silence for 7 days. Job finally spoke and cursed the day he was born. In Corinthians, Paul claimed that prophesy was something all should want to do because it strengthens the whole body. Speaking in tongues is great for the individual and if you can interpret your tongues, it is great for everyone. Lord, may we covet to use our gifts to help others in the Body. God’s gifts are for us to use to serve, not hoard. May we use them to your glory the way you intended them to be used.