Living in the Spirit
October 1, 2018
Scripture Reading: Job 1:1, 2:1-10
There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you come from?’ Satan answered the Lord, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.’ The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.’ –Job 1:1, 2:1-6
Satan, the name of the superhuman adversary of God*, is a leading character in the book of Job. Satan smugly claims that all humans have their price and even though Job has been blameless and upright so far, he surely has his limits. God allows Satan to put Job to the test. The scene is set, and the action begins.
From the beginning, humans have had the right to choose between good and evil. We have most likely always wondered if bad things happening to us are the results of bad things we have done. It is an age old question if God is love and God is thus good why do bad things happen to good people? In some instances, we know we are suffering very real consequences from our own actions. What of the Jobs of the world who are blameless and upright, why do bad things happen to them?
We readily quote Jesus as saying it rains on the just and the unjust but that does not help much. We need to look a little closer at the context. Here is the full scripture:
‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45)
All people are God’s children and he loves them equally. He is instructing that all people are our neighbors and we are to love them as he does. I think he may also be saying that we need to work as one to prevent bad things from happening to anyone if it is at all possible. I doubt the poor in Puerta Rico or the Carolina’s purposely live in homes more likely to be destroyed by hurricanes.
Prayer: Lord, make us good neighbors to all your children. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7854.htm