I’ve been reading lately about tombstone engravings.

One simply said:  He came, He saw, He logged out.  Another sad but humorous one delcares: 

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake who stepped on the gas instead of the brake.

You couldn’t ask for a better epitaph that these six brief descriptions of  - -

Blameless … Upright … Fearing God … Turning Away From Evil … Righteous … Steadfast.

Who among us would not be honored to have these words engraved on our tombstone?

Our portrait of Job is further enlarged by the next four verses in our text - - Job 1:2-5.

  Vs.2 / Seven sons & three daughters were born to (Job).  Job was blessed by God with a large family.

  Vs.3 /  His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen , 500 female donkeys,

and very many servants;  and that man was the greatest of all men in the east.

Job was a man of massive wealth.  To say that he was industrious would be a gross understatement.

  Vss.4-5 / And His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day,

 and they would send and invite their three sisters to each and drink with them.  And it came about,

 when the days of feasting had completed their cycle, that Job would send and consecrate them,

rising up early in the morning and offering burn offerings according to the number of them all;

 For Job said: ‘Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts’.  Thus Job did continually.

Job was not only a good-provider for his wife and children, he was also a very conscientious spiritual leader.

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Suddenly and unexpectedly a transaction takes place in the heavenly realm, unbeknownst to Job.

This portion of the text allows us to peer briefly into a world that is not easily understood by humankind.

The WORLD OF EVIL is hard to fathom.  Discussions about Satan or The Devil can sometimes be very confusing.

The imagery used often only confounds our ability to grasp the nature of evil .

In Gen.3:1 we read of a crafty Serpent who tempts Eve & Adam in the garden of Eden.

Here in Job 2:6, Satan is called The Accuser or Adversary.

In the New Testament this Evil Entity is spoken of in the plural as wild beasts (1Cor.15:32) … and dogs (Philp.3:2).

Jesus speaks of one called Beelzebul or Beelzebub (Mt.10:15).

Jesus once told Simon Peter (Lk.22:31) - - Behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you turned again, strengthen your brothers.

Peter writes (1Pet.5:8), You adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

In Rev.12:3 we read of a Red Dragon who sought to devour Mary’s son, Jesus.

In John’s letters to the seven churches (Rev.2:10, 13, 24 and 3:9) we read of the synagogue of Satan.

This expression is clearly a reference to Christ-denying Jews who were also called antichrists (1Jn.2:18).

We are relieved and encouraged greatly to read declarations about the conquest of Jesus over Satan.

   Not just in His own temptation in the wilderness (Mt.4:1-11), but on behalf of all who wear the name of Christ.

  Early on in this ministry of Jesus we get a sneak preview of the efficacious work of Christ.

The seventy disciples returned from a mission trip all excited saying (Lk.10:17-18) - -  Lord, even the demons

are subject to us in Your name.  And Jesus said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning’.

In Rom.16:20, Paul exhorts the early saints saying:  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Listen to these words from Heb.2:14-15 - - Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless Him who had the power over death,

 that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all of their lives.

Hear, too, 1Jn.3:8 - - The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

With these 15-20 texts (which are not meant to be exhaustive) I have given you a crash-course in Satan 101.

While these texts offer some insights, there remains much that is unclear about the role of Satan.

Back to Job.  As to how and why Satan has any right to stand in the presence of God, much less barter with God,

we cannot say.  On this matter Deut.29:29 will have to suffice - - The secret things belong to our God.

Satan’s contention is that Job only serves God because God has erected a hedge around Him (Job 1:9-10)

Satan is then given permission to assault Job’s belongings (we will call this round #1).

  The Sabeans attacked and slew Job’s 500 yoke oxen, 500 female donkeys and some of his servants (1:14f)

A follow-up raid destroyed his 7,000 sheep and more of his servants.

  The Chaldeans then came and destroyed Job’s 3,000 camels and still more servants.

  Finally, a violent, house-collapsing storm results in the death of all of Job’s children/grandchildren.  (1:18-19).

Job keeps his faith (Job 1:21)  The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Vs.22 adds - - Through all of this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Chapter two brings what we can call round #2.

This time God allows Satan to lay hands on Job himself (Job 2:4-6).

  Job is smote with boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet (vss.7-8).

It’s a pitiful image - - a picture of Job sitting in ashes scraping himself with a shard of pottery.

  Job’s wife doesn’t help.  She urges him to curse God and die (Job 2:9).

Job reprimands her and tells her she is talking foolishlessly.

He boldly and faithfully affirms:  shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? (vs.10).

In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

  Next Job’s friends come to comfort him and sympathize (vss.11-13).

Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar - - they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and

 seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.

We will hear from his friends in a future lesson.

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