23. The Story of Job the \nLong-suffering.

In ancient times, east of Palestine, there lived a righteous man \nby the name of Job. He was a just and good man, who always \nstrove to please God throughout his life. The Lord rewarded \nhim for his piety with great wealth. He had many hundreds of \nlarge and thousands of small cattle. His large and close family of \nseven sons and three daughters comforted him.

But the Devil was jealous of Job. He began to vilify him before \nGod, \"Doth Job fear God for nothing?... But put forth Thine \nhand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to \nThy face.\" Then God, in order to reveal to all how faithful Job \nwas to Him and in order to teach people patience in their \nsufferings, permitted the Devil to take away all of Job’s \npossessions. One day robbers came and drove away all his \ncattle, slew his servants, and a terrible tornado from the desert \ndestroyed the house in which Job’s children had gathered \ntogether, killing them all. Job not only did not complain against \nGod, but he said, \"God gave, and God hath taken away, \nblessed be the name of the Lord.\"

The Devil, put to shame, was not satisfied with this. Again he \nbegan to slander Job, \"All a man hath will he give for his life. \nBut put forth Thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh \n(that is, strike him down with disease), and he will curse Thee to \nThy face.\" God permitted the Devil to deprive Job even of his \nhealth, and Job was stricken with the most terrible disease — \nleprosy. Then even his wife began to persuade him to complain \nagainst God. His friends, instead of consolation, only further \ngrieved the innocent sufferer with their unjust suspicions. But \nJob remained firm, did not lose hope in the mercy of God and \nonly begged the Lord to testify that he was suffering in \ninnocence.

In his discourse with his friends, Job prophesied about the \nRedeemer and of the future resurrection: I know that my \nRedeemer liveth and on the last day He shall raise from \nthe dust this my corrupted skin, and in my flesh I shall \nsee God. I shall see Him myself; mine eyes, and not the \neyes of another, shall behold Him (Job 19:25-27, \nSeptuagint).

After this, God, having shown to all the example of devotion \nand long-suffering in His servant Job, appeared Himself and \ncommanded his friends, who had regarded Job as a great \nsinner, to ask for prayers from him for themselves. God \nrewarded His faithful servant. Job regained his health. He had \nseven more sons and three daughters, gained back twice as \nmuch cattle as he had before, and lived another one hundred \nand forty years in honor, quietly, piously and happily.

The story of long-suffering Job teaches us that God sends \nmisfortunes not just for sins, but that sometimes God sends \nmisfortunes even to the righteous for an even greater \nconfirmation in goodness, for the shaming of the Devil, and for \nthe glorification of the righteousness of God. The history of the \nlife of Job also reveals to us that earthly welfare does not \nalways accompany a virtuous life for men and teaches us also to \nbe sympathetic to those in misfortune. Job, by his innocent \nsufferings and patience, foreshadowed the Lord Jesus Christ. \nTherefore, in the days of the commemoration of the sufferings of \nJesus Christ during Passion Week, this story in the Book of Job \nis read in church.

Note: See the Book of Job.

06: '91 Coach to Manager