|
If Job was blameless, why did God allow Satan to afflict him?
Job 1:1 and Job
1:12
-
(Job
1:1) - "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and
that man was blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil."
-
(Job
1:12) - "Then the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is
in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him."
When
the Bible says that Job was blameless, it does not mean that he was
absolutely sinless. It means that he was a God-fearing man who sought
to do what was right before the Lord. Job's awareness of his own sins
is acknowledged by the fact that he sacrificed animals to the Lord as
atonement for his sins in chapter 1.
As the story goes, the "sons of God", angels, presented
themselves before God. Satan was there and a conversation ensued about
Job's goodness. Satan challenges God by stating that Job will denounce
God if afflicted. God gives permission to Satan to afflict Job.
Of course, Job doesn't denounce God. So, the question is why would God
allow Satan to do this?
The reason is so that God may be vindicated at His word
and so that we might understand that trials and tribulations will come to
those who are godly. In the former, we see the righteousness of God
After all, none are righteous before God (Rom.
3:10-12). In the latter we see the perfection of Job's faith (James
1:2-4).
Return to
Bible Difficulties - Job to Song of Solomon
|