Satan was probably minding his own business. As a matter of fact, when asked by the LORD, “From where have you come?” He replied, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it” (Job 1:7, ESV). But the LORD did not stop there. His next question to Satan was one that Christians everywhere are probably familiar with: “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” (v. 8). The Amplified Bible puts the verse this way: “Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God [with reverence] and abstains from and turns away from evil [because he honors God].”
The events following this interaction are acutely detailed in the Old Testament book of Job. Some believe this to be the oldest book in the Bible: God allowing man a glimpse into the unfolding of the drama behind evil and suffering, especially in the lives of some of His people. A glimpse that not only shows Him initiating events but in His sovereignty, allowing Satan limited room to orchestrate those events. The question “Hast thou considered my servant Job?” is profound. Job, whom God described as “a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil,” was doing His best to serve the LORD. Yet, God not only saw it fit to bring him to Satan’s attention but to remove His hedge of protection from around him, not once but twice (vv. 12; Job 2:6), for him to be afflicted with seemingly incomprehensible and unjustifiable suffering.
Interestingly, in his second discussion with Satan regarding Job, the LORD not only asked the same question but added, “And still he maintains and holds tightly to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3, ESV). For standing firm, Job was “rewarded” with more affliction. With God’s permission, Satan “struck Job with loathsome boils and agonizingly painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (v. 7). Despite the challenge from his wife to “curse God and die,” a somewhat understandable cry of bitter disappointment with God, the writer tells us, “In [spite of] all this, Job did not sin with [words from] his lips” (v. 10).
What does all of this have to do with us, especially those serving the LORD faithfully? Good question! What if He brought you to Satan’s attention? Could you be Job? Could I? What if He has already brought us to Satan’s attention—the trials and tribulations you and I are going through testifying of the temporary removal of His protective hedge? Three observations from the narrative that should help us on our journey. First, the LORD was always in control of the situation. Satan could do nothing without His permission (Job 1:9-11; Job 2:4-5). Second, the LORD placed limits on what Satan could do to Job (Job 1:12; Job 2:6). Third, Job’s faith in God and God’s faith in Job were vindicated, and God gave him double for his trouble (Job 42:10).
“Have you considered and reflected on My servant Job?” Replace Job’s name with yours. Could God trust you (and me) to remain faithful the way He trusted Job?
