Job's purpose?

Job struggled under the weight of Satan. One day the angels presented themselves to God and Satan tagged along. Job 1:7-8 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

Now this concerns me. I know, it is God and we can trust Him completely but really! God just dangles Job in front of Satan like a carrot in front of a horse. God almost dares Satan to try something.

Satan has a quick comeback, chiding God (Job 1:9-11): "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

I can't imagine God calling Satan's attention to Job, upright, blameless, God-fearing, evil-shunning Job unless He had a good reason. Perhaps the reason was so we'd read the story in the Bible in 2010 discussing the issues it presents. Perhaps it was to test Job, to strengthen his faith. Perhaps it was to challenge Satan to look upon his own behavior and existence to come to fear God. I wonder if Satan took the bait. I wonder if Satan learned anything from the experience.

In any event, Satan takes everything from Job and eventually even takes Job's health. Still Job is upright, blameless, God-fearing and evil-shunning. He is confident in God's mercy and grace, and apparently in God's plan too because he never loses hope. Even as he defends himself against the taunts of his friends, he knows his place with God. Eventually, Job's fortunes were restored (as much as they could be - after all a new family doesn't replace an old one.)

We may never know why God dangled Job in front of Satan. We may never know what Satan learned, if anything. We may never know what Job learned, or what of God's purpose was accomplished with this event. But we can rest assured that God did have a plan and that God's purposes for that event were accomplished or are still being accomplished - After all, I'm posting about it on my blog in 2010.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Thank you Planner of all Planners for having plans that are perfect and for Your purposes and good. I pray that each time You use me I am able to be upright, blameless, God-fearing and evil-shunning just like Job. With the help of my Savior, all things are possible. Amen.

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