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The Attacks Hit Home!


I recently read the book of Job.  This time around, I didn’t dwell on why God allowed things to happen to Job but I focused more on what happened.  That is, I didn’t really concern myself about why Satan was allowed to do the things he did to Job, but I became concerned as I considered what he did do to Job.  More on that in a moment…

As a reminder of how this Old Testament book starts out, when we are introduced to Job, we find that he was a righteous man and feared God.  As the account goes, Satan asked God for permission to do some things to Job in an effort to get Job to curse God.  Spoiler alert: it didn’t’ work.  But what Satan did to Job was strategically targeted and it greatly impacted Job’s life. 

The first attack against Job was to strip him of almost everything he had.  Satan’s argument was that God had blessed job with wealth and possession and if he were to lose those, Job would curse God (Job 1:6-11).  So, at the hand of Satan, Job lost essentially everything. Yet, and this is so significant, the account records this:  “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:22)

The second attack against Job was to significantly degrade Job’s physical health.  Satan’s argument was that if Job’s health were to suffer, he would curse God (Job 2:1-5).  So, at the hand of Satan, Job was afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.  Yet, Job’s response to this suffering was so incredible:  “…In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10b)

These days, with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am finding those same two areas that Job faced to be strikingly familiar.  Not that I have suffered so deeply and intensely but:

I may not have a lot in terms of wealth and possessions as Job did but as I’ve watched my retirement account take some major hits, I’m realizing that I may have placed too much hope in what I thought would be secure retirement income.

Regarding health, I have not had painful sores but I am in one of the categories of high risk for COVID-19.  While I have not contracted it, I have been experiencing the fear of contracting it.  And such fears, at times, have almost been overwhelming and debilitating.

While I quoted some portions of the Scriptures in regard to Job’s responses to his circumstances, I didn’t give a fuller picture.  After the first attack, Job fell to the ground in worship and said:  “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21).  After the second attack, even when Job’s wife suggested he just curse God and die, Job replied: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”  (Job 2:10)

Some aspects of COVID-19 have hit home with me, more so than I would care to admit.  But, after reading through the book of Job and being challenged to follow Job’s example, I’m praying that I will be able to respond in a way that demonstrates a secure trust in the goodness, faithfulness and love of our God!

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