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== The Story ==

== The Story ==

Job was a righteous man who feared [[God]] and whom God had blessed greatly.  God was pleased with Job and spoke highly of him in front of the host of [[angels]], but [[Satan]] challenged that Job was not deserving of God's accolades and was only righteous because God put a hedge around him so that his life went well, but Job would quickly turn on God in time of hardship.  God removed his hedge of protection and allowed Satan to put his accusation to the test.  A series of 4 servants came to Job one after the other telling him of disasters that had befallen his household.  When they were done Job knew he had lost his children, flocks, and servants, everything but his own health (which God had forbidden Satan to touch) and his wife.  Filled with grief, Job's still reacted with righteousness and fell to the ground to worship.  "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." <ref>Job 1:21</ref>

Job was a righteous man who feared [[God]] and whom God had blessed greatly.  God was pleased with Job and spoke highly of him in front of the host of [[angels]], but [[Satan]] challenged that Job was not deserving of God's accolades and was only righteous because God put a hedge around him so that his life went well, but Job would quickly turn on God in time of hardship.  God removed his hedge of protection and allowed Satan to put his accusation to the test.  A series of 4 servants came to Job one after the other telling him of disasters that had befallen his household.  When they were done Job knew he had lost his children, flocks, and servants, everything but his own health (which God had forbidden Satan to touch) and his wife.  Filled with grief, Job still reacted with righteousness and fell to the ground to worship.  "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." <ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%201:21&version=NABRE Job 1:21</ref>

At another gathering of the host of angels, God commended Job and his righteousness, but Satan again accused him saying that if his own body was touched, then he would curse God to his face.  The Lord allowed Satan to act upon his accusation, but to spare Job's life.  Job was afflicted with painful itching sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, which he scratched constantly with a piece of broken pottery. Job's wife told Job to "Curse God and Die" <ref>Job 2:9</ref>, but Job refused.

At another gathering of the host of angels, God commended Job and his righteousness, but Satan again accused him saying that if his own body was touched, then he would curse God to his face.  The Lord allowed Satan to act upon his accusation, but commanded the accuser to spare Job's life.  Job was afflicted with painful itching sores ("sore [[boils]]" <ref>http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/boils-and-carbuncles/basics/definition/con-20024235 Mayo Clinic.org: Boils and Carbuncles.<br/>[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001474.htm MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You. A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine

From the National Institutes of Health. Boils.] (nlm.nih.gov)</ref>) from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, which he scratched constantly with a piece of broken pottery. Job's wife told Job to "Curse God and Die" <ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%202:9&version=NABRE Job Job 2:9</ref>, apparently believing that God would immediately punish blasphemy with death, and that, by this indirect means of committing suicide, death would mercifully end his suffering, but Job refused. (See [http://www.suicide.org/suicide-by-cop.html suicide by cop].)

Job's friends came to talk to him and in long discourses that Job answered, implored to him to admit his sins that caused this.  Job could not understand what was happening, but knew it was not due to his sin.  He maintained he had been righteous and wished that God would let him know what had happened. Finally God himself came down in a storm to talk to Job.  Instead of answering Job's inquiries, He asked Job questions such as "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?  Tell me, if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?"<ref>Job 38:4-5</ref>. Job realized he had no answers for God and could not begin to question things he could not understand.

Job's friends came to talk to him and in long discourses that Job answered, implored to him to admit his sins had caused this.  Job could not understand what was happening, but knew it was not due to his sin.  He maintained he had been righteous and heartily desired, even demanded, that God would let him know what had happened. Finally God himself came down in a storm ([[theophany]]) to talk to Job.  Instead of answering Job's inquiries, He asked Job questions such as "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?  Tell me, if you understand.  Who marked off its dimensions?" <ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%2038:4-5&version=NABRE Job 38:4-5</ref>. Job actually saw God with his own eyes,<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%2042:5-6&version=NABRE Job 42:5-6</ref> and realized he had no answers for God and could not begin to question things he could not understand.

And God blessed Job all of his remaining years, giving him twice the flocks he had before, and 7 new sons and 3 new daughters to match the number he had before.

And God blessed Job all of his remaining years, giving him twice the flocks he had before, and 7 new sons and 3 new daughters to match the number he had before.