Normally, this would sound like proper counsel, much of the counsel we give today sounds the same. In this book though we see that Job is caught directly in the middle of something between Satan and God. This does not mean that this is always the case, we don't know if this has happened more than just this once. We only know that this type of occurrence is possible and that one may be tested similarly as a result.
The obvious question for me is that if this is the consequence of a unrepentant/sinful Job, why then aren't we all treated by God the same way. No doubt, after ten kids being taken away, this would be equivalent to ten souls paying the cost of one man's sin/unrepentance with their own lives (not to mention all the servants). To add to this removing all of his possessions and boils over his entire body; what are we really accusing God of? Extreme excess? This particular case should be understood as a revelation of the intents and mindset of Satan as much as the testing of an upright man. If there is any sin (which there always is) we should all be fearful and repent, we should be cautious not to respond with greater sin, be mindful of who is accusing who of what, allow for the possibilities spiritually far beyond our limited understanding.
This is essentially the nature of sin in a nut shell, raising ourselves up by lowering God down to anything less than what He is. To the defiled nothing is pure, especially their image of God. It can take on many different forms including relativism, idolatry, agnosticism, lawlessness, murder, anger, lust, deceit, etc..
That God can do everything and no thought can be hidden from Him is truly transformative. We have gone this long journey with Job to find that God is much to be feared, there is so much that we just don't understand. The image we have of Him is an image built to our own advantage. The pedestal we put our intellect and self image on needs to be abhorred and repented of. Before, Job had only heard of these things, now, he has seen. Everything that he has been through has led him to this.
The ending isn't always the same. Some never allow themselves to receive the knowledge of the Lord in this one on one fashion. Some counselors disregard the outcomes. Some extended families never return, and never surrender blame. When they do there is much to be thankful for. Some patients come to this realization not to be rewarded on this earth but, just in time to be brought into the next life. God's ways to us are just as mysterious and just as right.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
