Devil of an angel
Job’s story starts with a devil of an angel in heaven who seems part lawyer and part thug.
He prosecutes Job in Creation’s Supreme Court, with God as Chief Justice, and then he gets God’s permission to beat Job into the dirt by wiping out his family, wealth, and health.
It’s an odd story that, to some readers, seems to portray God as a good Bad Guy in heaven who has enough faith in Job to allow the devilish angel to decimate Job’s life. This angel, which most scholars say probably wasn’t Satan, seemed to be attending a large meeting in heaven.
The writer says this angel, known as the Accuser, had returned from a mission on earth after investigating the behavior of humans. When he got his one-on-one time with God, apparently to report on his trip, the Lord bragged about Job.
A talk with God
GOD: “Did you come across Job? He’s not just faithful to me, he’s one of a kind. No one on earth is better at telling evil to get lost.”
ACCUSER: “Does he follow you because it’s good for business? Doesn’t he live under the protection of your blessing? You give him a boost in everything he does. And he got rich because of it. Take it away from him and watch him look you in the eye and teach you how to cuss” (Job 1:8-11).
The accuser presumed Job behaved himself because God rewarded him for it—in essence, God bribed him.
God puts Job to the test.
God seemed to take that accusation personally. So, to prove Job was a good man by nature and not because of benefits, blessings, and bribes, he let the Accuser send Job:
- A windstorm that blew down a house and crushed to death all 10 of Job’s children,
- Raiders to steal Job’s livestock and kill Job’s slaves,
- An oozing skin disease that left Job constantly itching and in throbbing pain.
Job tells God how high to jump
Job has a reputation for patience. He didn’t earn it. And doesn’t deserve it.
He told God off. Many times over. If Job had a dog and if God came to visit, readers get the feeling that Job would have told the dog to bite the Almighty God.
“Here’s what I’m saying to God:
Stop it. Stop condemning me.
Instead, start explaining yourself.
What’s your problem with me?
Do you enjoy hurting people?
Is it fun to make something and then break it?
Does it make you smile
To watch evil people hurting others?” (Job 10:2-3).“Guilty or innocent,
It doesn’t matter.
God kills them both.
Do you know what he does?
I’ll tell you what he does.
He watches the innocent die in a disaster
And he has a good laugh about it” (Job 9:22-23).“Give me one doggone moment of peace,
Long enough to swallow my spit.
Tell me this, you People Watcher.
What’s my sin? How’d I hurt you?
Why did you turn me into a bullseye?
What did I ever do to you?
And if I sinned, why didn’t you forgive me?
I’ll be dead in the dirt soon.” (Job 7:19-21).
Job is saying this to three visitors who probably don’t deserve to be called his friends. Instead, they’re his critics. They harass him with threatening speeches promising that if he doesn’t admit his sin and repent God will punish him even more.
God puts Job in his place
But Job welcomes a confrontation with God—a chance to accuse God and reclaim his good reputation.
But when God comes to him on the wind and reminds him who is Creator and who is created, Job silently listens and then apologizes for criticizing God and ripping him a new face.
