We don't have to suffer like Job to learn what he learned. Observing Job's grief can equip us to respond in faith to the providence of God, whether it is good or hard.
The Test Continues (v.1-8) Satan’s contention is that faith is self-interested and conditional; so far he has been proven wrong. In this chapter, Satan’s contention is taken to a new level with another perceptive accusation – that physical suffering is often the last straw under which “faith” collapses. It is frequently true that “all that a man has he will give for his life.” When Job’s affliction comes we find him scraping his sores with a potsherd, which is a therapy that sounds as bad as the disease. We can reflect on how the case of Job leads the believer to respond to affliction with much more than medical management. The text continues to make it clear that whatever happens is by God’s appointment (v.3), and that Satan’s will is subsumed under God’s (v.6).
Job’s Wife and Friends (v.9-13) Satan’s suggestions can come even through those who are dearest to us (v.9). The lesson is not that nobody is trustworthy, rather, the lesson is to measure all things by the Word of God. In Job's response to his wife, it is obvious that his trials did not blind him to his blessings. He confesses that all things are from God and therefore they are to be received in faith with patience. Job will learn the value of faithful friends - as well as their limitations.
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