Job is described as an upright man who follows gods commands, and is blameless in gods eyes. The book of job is a lengthy poem set in the framework of a prose narrative. Full text of a dictionary of the spanish and english languages. The book of job is ancient israelite wisdom literature, and its purpose isnt to teach us about how satan and god make bets and leave innocent peoples fates hanging in the balance. Why did god make a bet with satan that allowed satan to torture job. There are a variety of views on chance to be found in the hebrew bible, or old testament. The bible pulls back the veil to glimpse heavenly affairs. In the first two chapters we are introduced to job and to yahwehs wager with. Full text of a dictionary of the spanish and english. The tone of the work abruptly changes, however, in chapter 3, as job begins his poetic speeches by cursing the day on which he was born. No red skin, no horns, no pointy teeth and tail, and no devilish grin. The entire saga of job and his family and friends was planned beforehand by god, and he just used satan as an active participant and the chief antagonist. I am in a study group at my church and this week we were studying job.
In this chapter we will discuss the book of job and. God not only wagered satan over the outcome of job s trials, but he actually provoked the bet job 12. The book of job is a wisdom story to make some important points some of which have been covered in other answers. There is no indication at all that job s children and servants were good followers of god.
Was it unfair for god to allow job to suffer over what was. In it, god brags to satan about the devotion of job, an upright and virtuous man. Many readers wrote to tell me its one of their favorite bible passages, and. The word blameless doesnt mean sinless, but rather. Im not the only person who loved the wifely tribute in proverbs 31. In the book of job, how was it possible for god and satan. A classic old testament skit, pungent as a piece of absurdist theater or a story by kafka. What the devil and job got wrong about god stephen moore on. The bet the bibles book of job is one of the most difficult for religious apologists to explain.
It reveals that satan as a rival god appeared before the true god jehovah in heaven, challenging jehovah in the assembly of all the angels before god. Allowing the questions is necessary in order to be able to address them. Why did god allow satan to harm job s health and wealth. The story of job gods bet with the devil religious forums. I am a faithful reader of your column and am curious how the jewish. Satan makes the wager that if job were to suffer, he would not be so loyal, pious and faithful. The book of job is a very interesting book in the bible. Job is going to be immiserated, sealed into sorrowfor a. If god does not permit satan to test his theory about the motivation of pious folks like job, then satan can say, you are afraid i might be right. Satan has put god in a tough place by his question. Why did god make a bet with satan that allowed satan to.
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