20141030 Thursday, October 30 2014
Job 20: What Did Satan Accuse The LORD Of Doing?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?"

Job was a good and righteous man who lived his life in accordance to the Way of the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God). Job freely chose to live a repentant life.

"1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 1:2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 1:3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 1:5 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: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually." (Job 1:1-5 KJV)

Satan (see also What Is Satan's Real Name?) targeted righteous Job from the accusation against the LORD that He had "bought" Job's following with the wealth Job that had earned while living a righteous life. Satan's challenge to Job was actually an accusation and a challenge to the LORD.

"1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 1:11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." (Job 1:8-11 KJV)

Satan's unsuccessful attacks upon Job then came from four directions. First, the killing of Job's family (who will be resurrected; see The Harvests Of Salvation) and the destruction of his wealth - in an attempt to provoke Job to turn away from the LORD by blaming (i.e. blaspheming"; see Blaspheming The Name Of God) the LORD (see How Did The Devil Challenge Job To Commit A Satan?): But "in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

"1:13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 1:14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 1:15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 1:13-22 KJV)

The second attack was upon Job's health. Despite the severe pain and grief, Job once again proved that his love for the LORD was pure, not bought. The third attack came at the same time - Satan used Job's also-suffering wife (she had lost her wealth and family too) to further provoke Job to "curse God, and die." But Job refused to fall into evil, so "In all this did not Job sin with his lips" (see also By The Skin Of The Teeth)

"2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

In all this did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 2:4-10 KJV)

Job's three righteous friends (see A Friend In Deed) unknowingly provided the fourth means of attack by falsely accusing Job of wrongdoing. They preached at Job to repent, but when Job denied having done anything wrong to bring the LORD's wrath upon him, they further accused Job of lying and being an unrepentant sinner.

"20:1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

20:2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste. 20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

20:4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 20:6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds; 20:7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he? 20:8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night. 20:9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him. 20:10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. 20:11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

20:12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue; 20:13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth: 20:14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. 20:15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. 20:16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him. 20:17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter. 20:18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. 20:19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;

20:20 Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. 20:21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods. 20:22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. 20:23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. 20:24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through. 20:25 It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him. 20:26 All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle. 20:27 The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 20:28 The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. 20:29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God." (Job 20:1-29 KJV)

Fact Finder: What does the Word of God command about not judging merely by circumstantial evidence?
See Job 6: Innocent Until Proven Guilty and Deuteronomy 19: Innocent Unless Proven Guilty