Wednesday 2021.10.27
Today in my Old Testament reading I read began reading the Book of Job, covering the first five chapters.
Job chapter 1 tells us that Job was a wealthy man. He had 7 sons and 3 daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-asses, and very many servants.
All these were taken away from Job in one day.
Verses 20 to 22 tells of Job's well known response to his great loss:
Job 1:20 - 22 RSV Revised Standard Version
Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshipped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job was a patient man. In the Epistle General of James, a reference is made about the steadfastness of Job in chapter 5 verse 11, how his steadfastness brought forth the purpose of God in his life:
James 5:11 RSV Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One. Let us learn from the example of Job, to remain patient and steadfast in times of great loss and adversity.
