Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 281
JOB
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was
blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away
from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep,
3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had
many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they
would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these
celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his
children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering
for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned
and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves
before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have
you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching
everything that’s going on.”
Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is
the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God.
You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his
property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how
rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely
curse you to your face!”
“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you
want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Sa
tan left the Lord’s presence.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen
were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans
269
