The prayer of Job that his story might be recorded for his posterity is among the sweetest prayers recorded in the Bible. It should be noted that Job lived for 210 years, and centuries had passed after the life of Job before Moses recorded his story, word for word, at the revelation of the LORD. In this is seen the precious lesson how GOD will answer prayers in the most redemptive way possible. Each answered prayer is for the many and not just the one because GOD wants to fill His coming kingdom with redeemed men, women and children.

     In the book of Job is seen every aspect of the rules of engagement between Christ and Satan: where GOD has the overriding jurisdiction while Satan executes his power over weak-minded men to bring affliction into the life of Job. Among these lessons there are several that apply directly to us today.

     The story of Job begins with a gathering of “the sons of God” before the throne of GOD. Satan shows up, uninvited, flaunting his power as the possessor of Earth’s dominion. Since Adam’s fall into sin, Satan seized the dominion of our world. And through his cruel manipulation we see every form of affliction on the life of Earth: from thorns, lice and disease to theft, lying, wars and ‘natural’ disasters. Every conceivable crime against life is carried out every moment of every day that this world exists. And it will not end until Christ comes to carry His Bride to His Father's House in Heaven, leaving the Earth in lifeless desolation (Jn.14:2,3; Isa.24; Jer.4:23-28; I Cor.6:2,3).

     While GOD is All-Sovereign He must allow these things due to the legal status of Satan as “the prince of this world” (Jn.14:30). But while GOD bears all responsibility He doesn’t bear the blame, for His gift of freewill has been abused to the uttermost by demons and men, and this explains every injustice we see among men.

     The LORD tells Satan that there is one man on the Earth that Satan cannot corrupt. His name is Job. Satan responds, complaining that GOD has miraculously protected him and all the possessions that he has. Satan dares GOD to allow him to remove all the blessings provided to Job and ‘then we’ll see just how faithful he is.’ So the LORD allows Satan to carry out his assault, but forbids him to personally hurt Job.

     A blitzkrieg immediately came against Job. Simultaneous attacks occurred against every blessing in Job’s Life. The devil prompted the Sabeans to steal Jobs livestock of 500 oxen and 500 donkeys, and kill all of his workers except the one who came and told Job. Then the Chaldeans likewise came and stole his 3000 camels, again killing all of the workers except one. Then fire fell from the sky and burned alive both the flock of 7000 sheep and all the shepherds, except one. And lastly a tornado swept over the house of Job’s children, killing them all. In one day Job lost his every possession including his children, with the exception of his wife and his home.

“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.” Job 1:20-22.

     Defeated in the contest, Satan returned to the LORD to increase the dare. GOD assured Satan once more of His “servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil.” Job 1:8. Then came Satan’s last ditch effort to sway things his way, “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.” Job 2:4-6. It needs to be said here how Satan mocks the sovereign authority of GOD while GOD lets us know who is the cause of all the afflictions: the perpetrator of the crimes taking place against righteous Job, and every crime against the dignity of life throughout Earth's history.

     Immediately Satan afflicts Job with boils from head to foot, a physical torment triggering every nerve in his body to ripple wave after wave of pain. It is at this time Job’s three ‘best friends’ come to ‘comfort him:’ (I say these words facetiously). In reality they were serving Satan’s purpose to torment Job’s mind and slander the character of GOD. They essentially “tag team” him insisting that there is hidden evil in Job’s life that warrants heaven’s wrath. Their theme is simple: Job had to sin to bring such calamities upon himself. They tear at the very heart of Job in addition to his physical suffering. But as you read their counsel vs. the words of Job the righteousness that GOD attributed to Job in the beginning shows the distinct contrast in Job’s godliness, wisdom and character vs. his ‘good friend’s’ condemning attitude toward him.

     It is during this time that Job cried out “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!” Job 19:23. Job pleads that he might hear from GOD and call Him to his defense. In the end of the ordeal the LORD came to Job. His voice was not condemning, nor was it without pathos. But as the voice of Christ, it was tender, caring, musical, and with the perfect tone of authority:

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

…Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? …Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

…Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? …Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.

…Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust [of the grave] together; and bind their faces in secret. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

…Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?

…Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear , I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. So Job died, being old and full of days.” Job ch.38-42.