Oct. 15, 2025

“TRIED AND TESTED”

“WHEN GOD MADE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL”

Job 1:1-22

JOB's TESTIMONY (JOB 1:1-5, 2:11)

*Job’s Faith (Job 1:1)

Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.”

The words for "blameless" and "upright" are related to the word "integrity." Job was a man of integrity. And that integrity was attested to by both Job's wife (Job 2:9) and God Himself (Job 2:3).

From this first verse it is established that Job was a man of faith—he was a man of proven integrity who feared God and pushed evil away.

*Job’s Family (Job 1:2, 4-5)

Job 1:2, 4-5 “And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 4And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer 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 Job did regularly.”

*Job’s Fortune (Job 1:3)

Job 1:3 “Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East.”

*Job’s Friends (Job 2:11)

Job 2:11 “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.”

But in the end, we discover that Job's forgiveness of their wrong was one of the prerequisites to his own recovery (Job 42:10).

Job 42:10 “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.”

*JOB’s TEST (Job 1:6-12)

*Satan’s Activity (Job 1:6-7)

Job 1:6-7 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

And the word "Satan" itself means "adversary," so he is opposed to the holy will of God. And when he appears here, standing in the middle of the holy angels, he is already fallen.

Satan's activity is described in similar terms in the New Testament as well:

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

And we give Satan an opportunity to do just that when we hold a grudge or refuse to forgive or we keep nursing our anger: 

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil.” 

*Satan’s Access (Job 1:6, 12b)

Job 1:6, 12 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 12And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

Though Satan is a fallen creature, he still has access to God. He has not been excluded from God's presence.

*Satan’s Accusation (Job 1:8-11)

Job 1:8-11 “Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” 9So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

*Satan’s Accountability (Job 1:12)

As some have observed, "God has Satan on a leash!”

*JOB’s TRIALS (JOB 1:13-19)

*The Loss of Stock and Servants (Job 1:13-15)

Job 1:13-15 “Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; 14and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

*The Loss of Sheep and Shepherds (Job 1:16)

Job 1:16 “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

*The Loss of Servants and Camels (Job 1:17)

Job 1:17 “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

*The Loss of Sons and Daughters (Job 1:18-19)

Job 1:18-19 “While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

And worst of all, there is no explanation from God to help Job understand what is going on.

*JOB’s TRIUMPH (Job 1:20-22)

*Job Released His Grief to God (Job 1:20a)

Job 1:20 “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head…”

*Job Responded to the Greatness of God (Job 1:20b)

Job 1:20 “…and he fell to the ground and worshiped.”

*Job Reflected on the Goodness of God (Job 1:21)

Job 1:21 “And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Perhaps this is the verse that Paul was thinking of when he wrote these words to young Timothy: 

1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. “

*Job Refused to Assign Guilt to God (Job 1:22b)

Job 1:22 “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”

*Job Remained Guiltless Before God (Job 1:22a)

In times of great trial, it is possible to be tempted to blame God and to become evil as the result of your circumstances. But Job shows us that we don't have to be like that. Job held high the standard of his integrity —that his God was sufficient.

And our God is sufficient! Our God is in control.