Immerse: Poets Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 282
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IMMERSE
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POETS
1:16–2:10
raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the
only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news:
“The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all
the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news:
“Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your
servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news:
“Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home.
Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house
on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the
only one who escaped to tell you.”
Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell
to the ground to worship. He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
One day the members of the heavenly court came again 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. And he has maintained his
integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”
Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything
he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will
surely curse you to your face!”
“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare
his life.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible
boils from head to foot.
Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the
ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity?
Curse God and die.”
But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only
