An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 663 words)
18:001:001 here was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and
that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and
eschewed evil.
18:001:002 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
18:001:003 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three
thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five
hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this
man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
18:001:004 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his
day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to
drink with them.
18:001:005 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone
about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in
the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the
number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have
sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job
continually.
18:001:006 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
18:001:007 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan
answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the
earth, and from walking up and down in it.
18:001:008 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant
Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and
an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
18:001:009 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for
nought?
18:001:010 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house,
and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed
the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the
land.
18:001:011 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and
he will curse thee to thy face.
18:001:012 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in
thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So
Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
18:001:013 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were
eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
18:001:014 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were
plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
18:001:015 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they
have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only
am escaped alone to tell thee.
18:001:016 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,
The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the
sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am
escaped alone to tell thee.
18:001:017 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,
The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels,
and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with
the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell
thee.
18:001:018 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said,
Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in
their eldest brother's house:
18:001:019 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and
smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the
young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to
tell thee.
18:001:020 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and
fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
18:001:021 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked
shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken
away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
18:001:022 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Let's Analyse the Pattern
Crisis reveals whether our sense of self depends on external circumstances or internal character.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between who you are and what you have or do.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you introduce yourself by your job title or possessions—then practice describing yourself by character traits instead.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
Context: Job's response immediately after learning of his children's deaths
This shows Job's profound understanding that everything we have is temporary. He's not denying his pain, but recognizing that loss doesn't negate the good he's experienced. It's acceptance without bitterness.
In Today's Words:
I came into this world with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing. Everything I had was a gift, and losing it doesn't make the giver evil.
"Doth Job fear God for nought?"
Context: Satan's challenge to God about Job's motives
This cuts to the heart of human nature - are we good because it pays off, or because goodness matters regardless of reward? Satan's question suggests that all virtue is ultimately selfish.
In Today's Words:
Is Job only faithful because he gets something out of it?
"Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man?"
Context: God pointing out Job to Satan as an example of genuine righteousness
God's pride in Job shows that character matters more than perfection. Job isn't sinless, but he's authentic and consistent in his integrity, which makes him remarkable.
In Today's Words:
Have you noticed Job? There's nobody else like him - he's genuine and tries to do right.
Thematic Threads
Class
In This Chapter
Job's wealth and social status are stripped away in a single day, testing whether his character was real or just a product of privilege
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might notice how differently people treat you when your financial situation changes
Identity
In This Chapter
Job must discover who he is when he's no longer the successful businessman, father, and community leader
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You face this when major life roles change—losing a job, kids leaving home, or retirement
Testing
In This Chapter
The cosmic test of whether Job's goodness is genuine or just the result of an easy life
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You experience this when life gets hard and you question whether your values still matter
Loss
In This Chapter
Job loses everything that seemed to define his success and happiness in rapid succession
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You know this when multiple bad things happen at once and you feel like you can't catch a break
Character
In This Chapter
Job's response to devastating loss reveals his true nature—grief without bitterness, acceptance without denial
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You see this tested when you're hurt by someone you trusted or face unfair treatment
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What external things defined Job's identity and success before his losses?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Satan believe Job's faithfulness depends on his good circumstances?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today building their identity around things that can be taken away?
application • medium - 4
How would you prepare yourself to handle sudden, major losses like Job experienced?
application • deep - 5
What does Job's response reveal about the difference between grief and despair?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Identity Audit: What Survives the Storm?
Make two lists: things that currently define your identity or give you a sense of worth, and things about you that would remain true even if you lost your job, health, or major relationships tomorrow. Compare the lists and notice which column is longer.
Consider:
- •Be honest about what actually makes you feel valuable day-to-day
- •Consider both obvious losses (job, house) and subtle ones (reputation, role as helper)
- •Notice which list feels more solid and reliable as a foundation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you faced a significant loss or setback. What did you discover about yourself that you didn't know before? What remained constant about who you are, even when your circumstances changed?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 2: When Life Hits Rock Bottom
Job's ordeal is far from over. The test is about to become much more personal, and his response will be put to an even greater trial.
