Job 1

1 ¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. ^a a v1 Job 'feared God' here — this is where Job begins. Across the book Job will come to know this God not only as just and powerful but as the relational Father he always was. His climactic confession at 42:5 marks the full arc — 'now my eye sees you.' ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³ He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and five hundred female donkeys, with a very large household of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. ⁴ His sons would go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send for their three sisters and invite them to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of feasting had run their course, Job would send for them and consecrate them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for each of them. For Job thought, "It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did.

The Heavenly Court Convenes

⁶ Now there was a day when the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before our Father, and Satan also came among them. ^b b v6 The accuser here is not a proper name but a title — the one who stands to accuse. He is the fallen rebel who rejected our Father and now accuses our Father's faithful before him.

⁷ Our Father said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered our Father, "From roaming the earth and walking back and forth across it."

⁸ Our Father said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth — a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil."

⁹ Satan answered our Father, "Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have spread out across the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and surely he will curse you to your face."

¹² Our Father said to Satan, "Very well — everything he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on the man himself." So Satan went out from the presence of our Father.

¹³ Now there was a day when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother, ¹⁴ and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans attacked and carried them off, and they struck down the servants with the edge of the sword. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties, swept down on the camels and carried them off, and they struck down the servants with the edge of the sword. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their oldest brother, ¹⁹ when suddenly a great wind swept in from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people, and they are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you."

²⁰ Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return. Our Father gave, and he has taken away; blessed be his name." ^c c v21 Even in devastating loss, Job blesses the One who gives and takes away. He reaches for the covenant name in worship — and FHB names him our Father, the relationship Job is moving toward even before he fully sees it. ²² In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.