Bible Stories: Job

Job was a very rich man. He is called the greatest of all men in the east. In those days wealth was counted by cattle and sheep. Job had 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 donkeys. He had many servants to care for these. Then he had seven sons and three daughters.

When our story begins, Job’s seven sons were grown and living in their own houses. The brothers and sisters were very fond of one another and took turns inviting all the others to their homes to celebrate their birthdays together.

Job was not only a rich man, but a good man as well. This is far better than being rich. He was perfect and upright. He loved and feared God and stayed away from evil. He offered sacrifices as God has taught them to do, for he knew that God was a holy God and that sin must be punished by death before anyone could come into his presence.

He not only offered sacrifices for himself but for his family as well. Job wanted them to live for the Lord too, so he prayed for them and taught them. Job was a good father. He was a good neighbour to, kind to the poor and needy and helpful to all.

We know that God is living. He hears and sees and knows all things. He has a host of angels to do His bidding and to go on errands and journeys for Him. In the book of Job God gives us a picture of something that happened in heaven, something that took place while Job was bringing his sacrifices and living a good, true life here on earth.

The angels were coming to present themselves before God, perhaps to report to Him. The Bible says, “And Satan came also among them.” Satan had been cast out of heaven because of pride and become God’s enemy. Since then he has lived on the earth, Job 1:7, and in the air, Ephesians 2:2. Here we learn that he is sometimes in Heaven as well, and for a special reason. In Revelation 12:10 he is called the “accuser of the brethren.”

It says that he accuses us before God day and night. When he see you sin he can accuse you before God. He can say, “Do you see what they have done? They have sinned and no sin can enter Heaven.” But the Lord Jesus is in Heaven too, and He makes intercession for us. He shows the scars on His hands and feet and side, and says, “Yes, they did sin, but I died for her and was punished for there sin. They have confessed this to Me and have been cleansed from it.”

Then Satan can say no more for he knows that this is true. This day in Heaven Satan was accusing Job. He hated Job because God loved him. He always hates what God loves and loves what God hates. God said that Job was the best man on the earth, and Satan said, He just serves you for what You do for him. You have given him riches and a family and servants. If you took these things away, he would not serve You. He would curse You.”

So God gave Satan permission to test Job but told him he must not hurt Job himself. So Satan left Heaven to return to earth.