Job’s Specific Manifestations of Fearing God and Shunning Evil in His Daily Life
Next, let’s see Job’s specific manifestations of fearing God and shunning evil. Apart from the first and last passages, let’s look at verse 5 of chapter 1, which is one of Job’s specific manifestations of fearing God and shunning evil. This manifestation is related to how he feared God and shunned evil in his daily life. Job’s prominent manifestation is that he not only did what he should do to fear God and shun evil, but he often offered burnt offerings before God for his sons.
He was afraid that his sons might have often “sinned and cursed God in their hearts” during their feasting. Then what did Job do in this matter? The text describes it this way: “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all.” From such behavior of Job, we see that his fear of God came from his inner heart and was not an outward action. And his fear of God could be found anytime and anywhere in his daily life, because he not only shunned evil himself, but often offered burnt offerings for his sons. This shows that Job was not only deeply afraid that he himself might sin against God and curse God in his heart, but also afraid that his sons might have sinned against God and cursed God in their hearts. It can be seen from this that the realness of Job’s fear of God can stand investigation and is beyond anyone’s doubt. Did he do so occasionally or continually? The last word of the text says: “Thus did Job continually.” The meaning of this account is: Job did not go to see occasionally or temporarily when he was happy, nor did he confess to God by praying, but he often asked them to be sanctified and offered burnt offerings for them. The “continually” here does not mean in a short time or in a moment, but means that Job’s act of fearing God was not temporary, and it did not just remain on knowledge and was not just on his lips. Instead, the way of fearing God and shunning evil guided his heart, directed his actions, and was the foundation of his existence in his heart. He often did so, and this shows that he was often afraid in his heart that he might sin against God and also afraid that his sons and daughters might have sinned against God, and also shows how much weight the way of “fearing God and shunning evil” held in his heart. The reason he often did so was that he was worried and afraid in his heart. He was afraid that he might do evil and sin against God and that he might deviate from God’s ways and could not satisfy God, and at the same time, he was worried about his sons and daughters and afraid that they might have offended God. These were Job’s usual behaviors in his daily life. Just these usual behaviors prove that Job’s “fearing God and shunning evil” was not an empty talk and that Job truly lived out the reality of “fearing God and shunning evil.” The word “Thus did Job continually” tells us Job’s actions and behavior before God at ordinary times. He often did so. Did his actions and his heart come up before God? In other words, did God often accept his heart and his actions? That is, under what situation and background did Job often do so? Some people say that because God often appeared to him, he could do so; others say that because he was a man who was willing to shun evil, he could often do so; still others say that probably because he felt that his possessions did not come easily and knew that they were bestowed by God, he was afraid that he might lose his possessions because of sinning against God and offending God. Are such various sayings the facts? Obviously not. This is because in God’s eyes what was accepted by God in Job and his most precious thing are not only due to his “doing thus continually,” but even more due to how he acted before God, before men, and before Satan when he was delivered to Satan to be tempted. The following verses are the most convincing evidence, from which we can see that God’s evaluation of him was real. Now read the following scriptures. 2. Satan Tempted Job the First Time (his livestock were taken away; his sons and daughters were hit by a calamity) 1) God’s Word (Job 1:8) And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil? (Job 1:12) And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 2) Satan’s Answer (Job 1:9-11) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.
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He was afraid that his sons might have often “sinned and cursed God in their hearts” during their feasting. Then what did Job do in this matter? The text describes it this way: “And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all.” From such behavior of Job, we see that his fear of God came from his inner heart and was not an outward action. And his fear of God could be found anytime and anywhere in his daily life, because he not only shunned evil himself, but often offered burnt offerings for his sons. This shows that Job was not only deeply afraid that he himself might sin against God and curse God in his heart, but also afraid that his sons might have sinned against God and cursed God in their hearts. It can be seen from this that the realness of Job’s fear of God can stand investigation and is beyond anyone’s doubt. Did he do so occasionally or continually? The last word of the text says: “Thus did Job continually.” The meaning of this account is: Job did not go to see occasionally or temporarily when he was happy, nor did he confess to God by praying, but he often asked them to be sanctified and offered burnt offerings for them. The “continually” here does not mean in a short time or in a moment, but means that Job’s act of fearing God was not temporary, and it did not just remain on knowledge and was not just on his lips. Instead, the way of fearing God and shunning evil guided his heart, directed his actions, and was the foundation of his existence in his heart. He often did so, and this shows that he was often afraid in his heart that he might sin against God and also afraid that his sons and daughters might have sinned against God, and also shows how much weight the way of “fearing God and shunning evil” held in his heart. The reason he often did so was that he was worried and afraid in his heart. He was afraid that he might do evil and sin against God and that he might deviate from God’s ways and could not satisfy God, and at the same time, he was worried about his sons and daughters and afraid that they might have offended God. These were Job’s usual behaviors in his daily life. Just these usual behaviors prove that Job’s “fearing God and shunning evil” was not an empty talk and that Job truly lived out the reality of “fearing God and shunning evil.” The word “Thus did Job continually” tells us Job’s actions and behavior before God at ordinary times. He often did so. Did his actions and his heart come up before God? In other words, did God often accept his heart and his actions? That is, under what situation and background did Job often do so? Some people say that because God often appeared to him, he could do so; others say that because he was a man who was willing to shun evil, he could often do so; still others say that probably because he felt that his possessions did not come easily and knew that they were bestowed by God, he was afraid that he might lose his possessions because of sinning against God and offending God. Are such various sayings the facts? Obviously not. This is because in God’s eyes what was accepted by God in Job and his most precious thing are not only due to his “doing thus continually,” but even more due to how he acted before God, before men, and before Satan when he was delivered to Satan to be tempted. The following verses are the most convincing evidence, from which we can see that God’s evaluation of him was real. Now read the following scriptures. 2. Satan Tempted Job the First Time (his livestock were taken away; his sons and daughters were hit by a calamity) 1) God’s Word (Job 1:8) And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil? (Job 1:12) And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 2) Satan’s Answer (Job 1:9-11) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.
God Allowed Satan to Tempt Job for the Purpose of Perfecting Job’s Faith
The word in Job 1:8 is the first conversation between Jehovah God and Satan we have read in the biblical records. What did God say? The text records as follows: And the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil? This is God’s evaluation of Job before Satan. God said that he was perfect and upright and feared God and shunned evil. Before His conversation with Satan, God had determined to use Satan to tempt Job, that is, to deliver Job to Satan. The purpose of doing so, on the one hand, was to prove the exact accuracy of God’s searching and evaluation of Job and to put Satan to shame through Job’s testimony. On the other hand, it was to perfect Job’s faith and fear of God. So, when Satan came before God, God “came straight to the point” and asked Satan directly, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shuns evil?” God’s question contains such meaning: God knew that Satan roamed everywhere and often spied on His servant Job and often tempted and attacked him. It attempted to crush Job by a certain means to prove that Job’s faith and his fear of God were untenable, and it also looked for chances unscrupulously to afflict Job and cause him to forsake God, so that it could take him away from God’s hand. However, God searched Job’s heart and saw that he was perfect and upright and that he feared God and shunned evil. God told Satan by questioning that Job was a perfect and upright man, one that feared God and shunned evil, and that he would never forsake God and follow Satan. Hearing God’s evaluation of Job, Satan became more exasperated and was even more impatient to take Job away. This was because it never believed that man was able to be “perfect and upright” or believed that man could “fear God and shun evil,” and it also hated man’s perfectness and uprightness and hated anyone who could “fear God and shun evil.” Just as Satan answered Jehovah in Job 1:9-11, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have not you made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” God well knew Satan’s malicious nature and also deeply knew that it had harbored the intention of afflicting Job for a long time. So, here, by telling Satan again that Job was “a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and shuns evil,” God was to get Satan to submissively do what He wanted it to do—to show its true colors—to attack and tempt Job. That is to say, God purposely emphasized that Job was perfect and upright and feared God and shunned evil, and used this means to stir Satan to make an attack against Job because of its hatred of and annoyance at Job’s “being perfect and upright and fearing God and shunning evil,” thus letting Satan be shamed by Job’s “being perfect and upright and fearing God and shunning evil,” so that it could be utterly shamed and defeated and would never again doubt or accuse Job’s being perfect and upright and fearing God and shunning evil. Thus, a trial from God and a temptation from Satan would be inevitable. And the one who could bear God’s trial and withstand Satan’s temptation was only Job. After that conversation, Satan was allowed to tempt Job. That was the first round of attack from Satan. Its target was Job’s possessions. Because Satan accused Job as follows: “Does Job fear God for nothing? …you have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land,” God allowed Satan to take away all that Job had. That was God’s intention of conversing with Satan. But God made a requirement of Satan: “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand.” (Job 1:12) It was the condition God made after He allowed Satan to tempt Job and delivered Job into Satan’s hand, that is, the bottom line God set for Satan, ordering it not to do harm to Job. God acknowledged Job’s perfectness and uprightness and believed that Job’s uprightness and perfectness before Him could withstand the test and was beyond doubt, so He allowed Satan to tempt Job. Yet He set a limit for Satan: Satan was only allowed to take away any property of Job, but not to put forth its hand on him. What does this mean? It means that at that time God did not completely deliver Job to Satan, and it was allowed to tempt Job in any way or means, but was not allowed to harm Job himself, not even a hair. That is because man’s everything is governed by God and man’s death or life is decided by God, and Satan has no such right. After God said the word to Satan, Satan went anxiously. It went to tempt Job by various means. Soon, Job lost his flocks and herds all over the hills and lost all the possessions God bestowed to him…. God’s trial came upon Job just like that. Although we know from the Bible the origin of the temptation Job underwent, did Job, as the “one concerned,” know about that? Job was only a mortal, and of course, he did not know the story that happened behind him. However, his fear of God and his perfectness and uprightness made him aware that it was God’s trial coming upon him. He did not know what had happened in the spiritual realm or what God’s intention was behind the trial, but he knew that no matter what came upon him, he should hold on to his perfectness and uprightness and hold fast the way of “fearing God and shunning evil.” Job’s attitude and reaction to these things were seen very clearly by God. What did God see? He saw Job’s heart of fearing Him. That is because from the beginning to the end of Job’s undergoing the trial, his heart was always open to God and was laid before God, and he never gave up his perfectness and uprightness or forsook and departed from the way of “fearing God and shunning evil.” That was what God was most gratified with. Next, let’s see what temptations Job underwent and how he treated the trial. Continue to read the scriptures. 3) Job’s Reaction (Job 1:20-21) Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.Job Could Return All that He Had Willingly Out of His Fear of God
After God said to Satan the word, “all that he has is in your power; only on himself put not forth your hand,” Satan went away. Then sudden violent attacks came upon Job: First, the oxen and asses were taken away and the servants were killed; then the sheep and the servants were burned up and consumed; then the camels were taken away and the servants were killed; finally, his sons and daughters were deprived of their lives. The series of attacks were the sufferings Job underwent when he was first tempted. In the attacks, Satan only aimed at Job’s possessions and his sons and daughters and did not do harm to Job himself, as commanded by God. But Job instantly turned from a rich man of great wealth into a man with nothing. No one can bear such a blow like a thunderbolt or face it properly. Job, however, showed his transcendence. The scripture describes it this way: Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped. This was Job’s first reaction when he heard that all his possessions and his sons and daughters were lost. First of all, he did not show any surprise or panic, much less any anger or hatred. It can be seen that he was sure within that all the calamities were not accidental or from man’s hand, much less were they retribution or punishment coming upon him, but rather, it was that Jehovah’s trial came upon him, and that Jehovah wanted to take away his property and his sons and daughters. Job at that time was very quiet in his heart and was very sober-minded, and his perfect and upright humanity caused him to make a right judgment and decision rationally and naturally on the calamities he encountered. So, he acted extraordinarily calm: He arose, rent his mantle, shaved his head, and fell down on the ground and worshipped. “Rent his mantle” means that he was naked and had nothing. “Shaved his head” means that he returned before God like a new-born baby. “Fell down on the ground and worshipped” means that he came naked to the world and still had nothing now and returned to God like a new-born baby. Job took such an attitude toward all the things that came upon him, which no other created being can have. His faith in Jehovah went beyond the scope of believing. This was his fear of God and his obedience to God. He could thank God not only for God’s bestowing to him but also for God’s taking away from him, and could even more return all that he had willingly, including his life. Job’s fear and obedience toward God are an example to mankind, and his perfectness and uprightness have reached the peak of the humanity that man should have. Although he did not see God, he experienced the real existence of God. He feared God because of his experience, and obeyed God because of his fear of God. He let God take away his everything without any complaint and prostrated himself on the ground and told God that even if God took away his flesh at that moment, he would be willing and have no complaint. He had all these manifestations because of his perfect and upright humanity. That is to say, because Job was simple, honest, and kind, he firmly believed in God’s existence that he experienced and felt, and on that basis, he made requirements of himself and regulated his mind, actions, behavior, and principles of doing things before God according to God’s guidance to him or God’s deeds he saw in all things; as time went on, he had a true and practical fear of God through his experiences, and at the same time he shunned evil. This is the origin of “integrity” Job held fast. Job had an honest, simple, and kind humanity and had practical experiences of fearing God, obeying God, and shunning evil and the knowledge of “the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away,” so he could stand testimony when Satan attacked him so maliciously, and did not fail God but gave God a satisfactory answer when God’s trial came upon him. Although Job acted very “simply” in the first temptation, people after him may not be able to act as “simply” as Job or have Job’s behavior above even if they exert their lifetime painstaking effort. Today, facing Job’s “simple” behavior, and comparing it with the slogan and determination, “obey God absolutely and be faithful unto death,” expressed to God by all those today who say with their mouth they believe in God and follow God, don’t you blush with shame? When you see the biblical record of all that Job’s family suffered, what reaction do you have? Will you have lots of imaginations? Will you be very surprised? Can the trial Job encountered be described with the word “shocking”? That is to say, when the trial came upon Job, the scene described in words was already too miserable to see, so how much more was the real scene? It shows that what came upon Job was not an “exercise” but a “regular warfare with live ammunition.” Who personally manipulated the trial he encountered? Of course, it was done by Satan, done by Satan personally, which however was permitted by God. Did God tell Satan by what means to tempt Job? God said nothing about that but only made a condition for it. And the temptation came upon Job then. When the temptation came upon Job, we feel Satan’s evil and ugliness, its maliciousness, its hatred for man, and its hostility against God. From this, it can be seen that the cruelty of this temptation could hardly be described in words. It can be said that Satan’s malicious nature of afflicting man and its ugly image were thoroughly exposed at that time! Through that chance, the chance God allowed it, it mercilessly and madly afflicted Job. And its means of afflicting and the degree of its cruelty are unimaginable and simply unbearable to people of today. More than undergoing Satan’s temptation and standing the testimony in it, Job had a contest against Satan in God’s trial for him to maintain his perfectness and uprightness and maintain the way of “fearing God and shunning evil.” In that contest, Job lost the flocks and herds all over the hills, lost all his possessions, and lost his sons and daughters, but he did not abandon his perfectness and uprightness and his fear of God. That is, in his contest against Satan, he would rather lose his possessions and his sons and daughters than not hold fast his perfectness and uprightness and his fear of God and his foundation of being a man. The scriptures gave a brief account of the whole course of Job’s losing his possessions, and also gave an account of his behavior and attitude. The concise account gives one a feeling that Job seemed to face the temptation in a very “easy” way. But if the real scene of the fact was truly restored, with Satan’s malicious nature considered, it would not be as simple and easy as described in those few words. The real scene was far more miserable than that. This was the degree of Satan’s afflicting and hating mankind and man who was commended by God. If God did not order Satan not to harm Job, it would absolutely put Job to death without mercy. Satan does not hope that men worship God or that the righteous and the perfect and upright in God’s eyes can continue to fear God and shun evil. When a person fears God and shuns evil, it means that he departs from Satan and rebels against Satan. So, Satan unleashed all its anger and hatred against Job mercilessly through the chance God allowed it. It can be seen how grievous were the sufferings Job underwent mentally and physically and without and within. Today, we cannot see the scene of that time but can only have a bit of feeling from the record of the Bible about how Job felt when he suffered.
Eastern Lightning, The Church of Almighty God was created because of the appearance and work of Almighty God, the second coming of the Lord Jesus, Christ of the last days. It is made up of all those who accept Almighty God's work in the last days and are conquered and saved by His words. It was entirely founded by Almighty God personally and is led by Him as the Shepherd. It was definitely not created by a person. Christ is the truth, the way, and the life. God's sheep hear God's voice. As long as you read the words of Almighty God, you will see God has appeared.
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