The Character Of Job

Job 1:5

“When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for then to be purified.  Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.”

The Bible says that Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  This would mean that everyone knew Job and his family.  It would be like our first family today, the Trumps.  Everyone knows them, especially Donald Trump. 

Before we dive into the calamity that Job is going to get into, we need to understand the character of this man Job. Being the greatest man among all the people of the East would lead us to believe that Job had whatever he wanted and had enough money and possessions for a lifetime for him and his family.  All those possessions could have made him an unrighteous greedy man that was only interested in himself but Job was different, he followed God in all his ways. 

After all the feasting at birthday times Job would sacrifice a burnt offering for each one of the children thinking that perhaps they have cursed God in their hearts.  This means that they did not say anything out loud that would lead anyone to believe they cursed God, but rather he was concerned about what they would say in their hearts also.  It is no wonder that God champions Job and his resolve to Satan.  God knows Job’s heart and his commitment to following God. 

You see the bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  Job must have been a titan for God in his day because the poop thrown on his life by Satan would rock everyone I know to his core. 

If you are a Christian you should pray and ask for the resolve of Job.  God was his rock, not all the stuff or his family.  We often put stuff and family ahead of God in our lives.  Anything before God in your life is an idol and God’s word is clear that He wants first place in your life period! They say the greatest generation was the group of people who made it through WW2.  Their resolve for their country did not get birthed in war on the front lines but rather it was fashioned before that.  Their resolve was shaped before they went to battle, it was made strong around the dinner table with their family.  It was perfected at church growing up under God’s church.  Only after humble beginnings did their resolve become strong enough to fight and lose so much and still find themselves under God’s church not cursing God.  Job was this kind of person.  What kind of person are you?

Prayer: Father, too often we focus our attention on our issues and make them out to be larger than you. I repent of any times I have created an idol of my issues before you Lord. I pray that I would have the resolve of Job and the heart of Job. I pray that I would order my life line with you and your word. In Jesus name, amen.