Job 2:1-3

1 Again there was a day [yowm] when the sons [ben] of God ['elohiym] came [bow'] to present [yatsab] themselves before the LORD [Yahovah], and Satan [satan] came [bow'] also among [tavek] them to present [yatsab] himself before the LORD [Yahovah].

2 And the LORD [Yahovah] said ['amar] unto Satan [satan], From whence ['ay] comest [bow'] thou? And Satan [satan] answered [`anah] the LORD [Yahovah], and said ['amar], From going to and fro [shuwt] in the earth ['erets], and from walking up and down [halak] in it.

3 And the LORD [Yahovah] said ['amar] unto Satan [satan], Hast thou [suwm] considered [leb] my servant [`ebed] Job ['Iyowb], that there is none like him in the earth ['erets], a perfect [tam] and an upright [yashar] man ['iysh], one that feareth [yare'] God ['elohiym], and escheweth [cuwr] evil [ra`]? and still he holdeth fast [chazaq] his integrity [tummah], although thou movedst [cuwth] me against him, to destroy [bala`] him without cause [chinnam]. KJV-Interlinear

1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?' Then Satan answered the LORD and said, 'From roaming about on the earth, and walking around on it.' 3 And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause.' NASB

A period of time has passed. How much we do not know. What we do know, is that Satan has returned to his same activities of roaming the world, searching for victims, and plotting against them. Satan returns to yet another assembly of angels before God, as is his habit.

Now for Job. Do we know what he has been up to? Yes.

By inference, since we know of Job's character, we know exactly what Job has been doing. Job is responsible and caring. He would have been recovering the bodies of his children and burying them. He would have been traveling to the four corners of his lands, and helping in the recovery of the bodies of his employees, and seeing to it that they received a proper burial.

Many memorial services would have been held in memory of, and honoring to, each and everyone of those who had been murdered.

Job would then be surveying his losses. His lands were not fenced, so even an organized group of herders when handling animals, would lose a stray or two from the herds. When a band of thieves comes along, then they are not so perfect in their handling of the herds. The sheep, the camels, the donkeys, the oxen all would have been scattered across the countryside as the thieves hurried in their deeds of murder and such. Even the ferocity of the storm would have scattered the herds to some extent.

The bulk of the property was lost, but no doubt, a few strays would be recovered.

After all of this, Job would have returned home for rest and readying himself to begin his life all over again. In all of this, Job would have taken the lead in studying the scriptures, as they existed in his day, and worshipping God.

His wife, as we will soon see, will not be so happy with all of this. After all, she too lost a great deal with respect to the advantages of their wealth and position within the community. But, more on that when we get to verse ten.

Quite a contrast. Job has lost everything and still holds his poise and faith in God. Satan, who risks nothing and has no real argument against Job, except for Jobs love of God, and Satan hates that.

The words of the previous chapter in verse six, are repeated almost to the letter. Satan's pattern of life is the same. He hates, he is arrogant, he tries one thing after another, and fails at every turn, yet Satan never learns, never changes.

Satan is the single most brilliant creature that God has ever made, and yet without truth in him, even Satan is blinded by his own arrogance and stubborn rejection of truth. If Satan is so defenseless and inept, then how can any human being consider being any better? Still, arrogance does that. Arrogance deludes ones thinking into the absurd, and clear thinking becomes impossible.

'There is none like him in all the earth.' 'Job is a blameless and upright man, avoiding evil.'

Job has seen his family and wealth taken away in the space of just a few hours, and he still holds fast to his spiritual integrity, despite all that Satan has subjected him too. His life is not in things, but in doctrine.

Satan had no reason, no basis for doing what he did. But Satan who is really the first liberal minded creature in history, sees nothing wrong in what he did. He merely thinks that he is proposing valid tests against God. And Job, as any human being, is merely the subject for the challenge of Satan against Gods authority.

Satan represents a pattern of thinking which never sees his own faults, and never sees the harm he inflicts against others. What he sees, is that his opinions are for the good of those who are to survive, and especially for the preservation of his own position in life.

Satan has given us the pattern. We can look at history and see many dramatic examples of people such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao and others who have used greed, power, and rationalization to legitimize the murder of millions.

Even our own congress provides us with examples of this type of abuse, when back in 1974 the then newly elected congress came into power, and immediately voted to refuse money for the war in Viet Nam. The military had to evacuate immediately and anyone who was alive back then, can remember the mad scramble as Saigon was being evacuated. The millions who were left behind combined with millions in the neighboring countries of Cambodia and Laos died at the hands of the North.

But what did the representatives of that day do? They went about their business as though it were none of their fault. Satan answered Gods question after brutalizing Job, 'From roaming about on the earth.' As though nothing of significance had happened. Certainly, nothing that Satan cared for.

No remorse, no guilt, no concern whatsoever.

People in general are guilty of this pattern of evil. When they gossip, when they malign, when they steal, when they judge others, when they burn toast and have a tantrum. Evil comes in many forms, and can apply to every living being. One does not have to be a world leader or a super angel to qualify for this type of behavior. One does not have to live in a tyrant country to be subjected to this type of attitude.

Satan's attitude is the worst of the worst. He is indifferent. He cares nothing for anyone but himself.

Job displays the best of the best of attitudes. His beliefs begin with God, and Bible doctrine. Only through truth can you avoid evil.

Job did not deserve any of this, yet he was subjected to great loss. Still, the worst is yet to come.

Life in this world is temporary at the very best. All that you have and are, in the framework of this life, are temporary at best.

But regardless of your circumstances of life, regardless of whether you are a billionaire, or poor and disabled to the max, or a pathetic person, this world does not have any control over you, except to the extent that you give it. And you give the world control over your life when you reject God, Christ, and Bible doctrine.

By rejecting or ignoring your spiritual life, you are not gaining freedom, you are condemning yourself to slavery to the worst of masters.

But in Christ, you will have a hedge, you will have a wall of fire, your will have a fortress surrounding you at all times. The world may hammer you over and over, again and again, but in Christ you will be perfectly safe. Your destiny in heaven exceeds your wildest imagination. No one can take that away from you.

Do not worry about anything, but commit yourself legitimately, to your spiritual life, and the word of God will garrison your soul, protecting you from the powers of this world, and bestowing upon you phenomenal blessings that you could otherwise never know.

Call to God, and He will answer you and show you great and powerful things.

The world sees only what is in view. The mature believer sees everything.

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