THE PATIENCE OF JOB

The saying, “He must have the patience of Job,” comes from the Bible which describes Job as blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.  With 7 sons and 3 daughters and great possessions of cattle, he was the greatest of all the people of the East.  Even God was proud of His faithful servant, but Satan said to him, “Does Job fear God for naught?  You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased but now stretch out your hand against him and he will curse you to your face!”  The Lord replied, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power.”  [ Job 1:9-12 ]  Soon a messenger came to tell Job how a tribe had killed his oxen and donkeys and servants.  Whilst still speaking, news came that lightning had burned up his sheep and more servants.  Quickly another messenger told how a local tribe had killed his camels and more servants.  Finally, the devastating news came that a hurricane had destroyed his eldest son’s house and killed all Job’s children.  Then Job and worshipped and said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”  In all this, Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong [ Job 1: 21,22 ]

Satan’s test of Job failed!  Job never cursed God but blessed Him!  But Satan said, “Touch his bone and flesh and he’ll curse you to your face.”  With God’s permission Satan struck Job from head to foot with painful boils which led Job’s wife to say, “Curse God and die!”   But Job replied, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and shall we not accept adversity?”  [ Job 2:1-7 ] 

God rewarded Job’s faithfulness and gave him back 7 more sons and 3 daughters, twice as much cattle and he doubled Job’s life to 140!  [ Job 42:10-16 ]