Job's three friends

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 2:11–13, “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”

When Job’s three friends heard about his problems they agreed together that he needed some comfort and came to visit him. They didn’t recognise Job, at first, because he was so devastated by his diseases. They sat nearby and didn’t say anything for seven days. They understood that, sometimes, people just need the comfort of people close by rather than conversation.

Curse God and die

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 2:7–10, “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”

As soon as Satan had permission from the Lord, he raced out to attack Job. It is good to note that Satan was not allowed to attack Job without first getting permission. The Lord knows His own people and how much they can bear and He will not allow Satan to take anyone, who believes in the Lord, beyond their breaking point. As long a we, who believe in the Lord, trust Him we will be safe and secure from all Satan’s evil, destructive plans. Job had boils all over his body so his body just became a well of pain. We should note here that the place of extreme pain is the loneliest place on earth. Job sat on the ground and tried to take the pressure out of the boils by breaking them open with shards of pottery and letting the core out. Job’s wife struggled to cope with the situation and encouraged Job just to give up, curse God and die, for that would deliver him from the pain. However, Job believed that the Lord is sovereign on the earth and accepted that the Lord God knew what He was doing. Job remembered that the Sovereign Lord had given him many good things in his life and now he decided that the Sovereign Lord was broadening his experiences.

Skin for skin

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 2:1–6, “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”

Satan was proved to be wrong and the Lord right. However, Satan wasn't willing to admit that he might be wrong so he manufactured another lie about Job. He suggested that Job was only righteous because Job still had his health. However, the Lord knows the end from the beginning and He also knew that Job’s experience would prove to be valuable in Job’s life as well as a good example for anyone else who reads this history. It is good to note that the Lord isn’t cruel and causes one person to suffer for another’s benefit. There is alway good for any individual who trusts in the Lord and obeys Him.

The Lord has taken away

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 1:20–22, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

When Job discovered that he had lost his family and all his wealth he didn’t lose his faith or his respect of the Lord. He accepted that the Lord is sovereign and submitted to his sovereign will.

There was a day

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 1:13–19, “And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

As soon as Satan had permission from the Lord, he went away and took everything that he could from Job. He took his wealth and his family. He wanted to prove to the Lord that he was right and the Lord was wrong. When Satan attacks he does so without any concern for the individual but is only interested in proving his point without any concern for the cost.

The sons of God came

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 1:6–12, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”

This is a very important passage in the Bible for it gives us an insight into the cosmic conflict. The first thing to notice is that there is a place where spiritual activities take place. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The heavens are plural rather than singular. There is a place know as the “hill of the Lord” that we read about in Psalm 24. This place is completely free of sin and God dwells there away from sin for we know that God is to pure to look on sin (Hab 1: 13) and, in this place, He can retreat from sin and be free from that stain. There is also the first heaven, that it, the heaven that we see when we go outside and look up. In the day we can see the sun, the sky and the clouds, in the night we can see the moon and the stars. There is also the place where the spiritual battle takes place, the second heaven. We have an insight into the second heaven in this passage. The Lord has good angels, who are doing His work on the earth. From time to time, the Lord comes to this place to communicate with these angels. On the other hand, Satan, the evil one, also has access to this place because he is a fallen angel. On this occasion, while the Lord was talking to His angels, Satan came to accuse and make his lies to the Lord. The Lord asked Satan if he had seen Job in his travels. Satan immediately tried to manufacture a lie and suggest that Job was good because he liked all the good things that he got from the Lord. Even though this was not true, Satan is a liar and always looks to manufacture lies; he often uses a bit of the truth and then goes on to make his lies. Satan tried to persuade the Lord that Job wasn’t really a good man, just a selfish man. The Lord told Satan that he was allowed to try and demonstrate his point by attacking Job. This may seem an arbitrary act on the Lord’s part but the Lord knows the end from the beginning (Is 46: 10) and knew how this would finish. Satan, on the other hand, doesn’t know the future and thinks that he can manipulate the times for his own benefit. However, Satan wasn’t allowed to gratuitously attack Job, he had to ask the Lord for permission first.

My sons may have sinned

Would you like to read James McNaught’s novel Sinking Sand”? click here: Sinking Sand

http://www.booksthataregood.com/Reference_Books.php

http://twitter.com/#!/jamesmcnaught 

http://youtu.be/NK8VWcw8BOM “The Science is in!”

(The views expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)

Job 1:4–5, “And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”

Job’s children were grown and lived in their own homes but Job was still concerned about their position before the Lord. Day by day, his children moved from house to house, ate together and celebrated all the good things that the Lord had given them. Job offered sacrifices and burnt offering for any sin they may have committed from day day.