Job

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Job was a God-fearing man who avoided evil, had seven sons and three daughters, and was immensely wealthy. God calls Job "A good man who fears God and will have nothing to do with evil." (Job 1;8). Satan scoffs, "Why shouldn't he when You pay him so well? ... You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm." God then allows Satan to do anything he likes with Job's wealth, but not to harm him physically.

A series of misfortunes strikes Job. Three friends visit him, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, and each try to explain Job's misery in a different way. There are three speeches by each of the three friends.

A fourth man Elihu, tries to summarize the situation, offering yet another explanation of why Job is suffering. Finally the Lord Himself speaks to Job, and Job recognizes that we do not always need answers to life's problems but that we always need God Himself. Job is then healed and given material and spiritual blessings far beyond his former state.

The life and times of Job are contained in the Bible's book of Job, in the Old Testament. The theme of this book is that mankind simply does not have enough knowledge to explain why things happen the way they do. It is possible to rise above our limitations by faith in God, however, because God does know why everything happens and will work good for those who love him. We may thus learn the profound truth that when we have nothing left but God, God is enough.

Job is mentioned, along with Noah and Daniel, in Ezekiel 14:14, as the only ones to be saved by their righteousness. In James 5:11 Job is mentioned as a man who continued to trust the Lord even in sorrow.

Next person in the Bible: Jochebed

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