What does verse 3 mean when it says that Job was “the greatest of all the men of the east?” The context seems to suggest that his greatness was primarily a matter of money. The man’s flocks and herds were so large he had a hard time counting them – the number was in flux. And he had a very great household – which meant children and staff. But judging from the testimony of the Lord in verse 8, I wouldn’t be surprised if Job wasn’t indeed the morally and spiritually greatest man in the East. “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?” Have you ever considered that despite the practice of many wealthy people in Job’s day, he was married to one woman and there were no hints of concubines or mistresses?
The Biblical word “great” is an interesting study. Its found over five hundred times and is translated eighteen different ways. It can refer to age, such as “elder” and “eldest.” And it is translated “proud thing”, “high” and even “loud.” But most often – almost four hundred times – it simply is translated “great,” leaving the door open to various interpretations and applications. How as Job “a great man,” and how should we strive to be great ourselves? It’s as simple as “A B C.” Job was a man of astounding Character; He was the boast Lord; and he was the curiosity Satan.
Let’s begin out of order and think about the BOAST of the Lord.
“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?” The Bible tells us that after Job had become rich, he became extremely poor. He lost his children, his wife, a zillion feet of cattle and a great portion of his health. And it was the Devil who burgled Job’s home and stole his possessions. But some have never noticed that it was Jehovah who brought up the subject of Job to the Devil. Satan didn’t come to Jehovah and say, “Let me clean out Job’s house.” Rather, the Lord said to him, “Have you considered my servant Job?” This fact reminds us of several things.
First, we are reminded that the Lord knows those who are His. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal: Lord knoweth them that are His.” We should rejoice in that fact, bask in the warmeth of that reality, praise the Lord for that revelation. But notice, too, that God is not as interested in our image as He is in our reality. The Lord didn’t ask Satan whether or not he had heard the rumors about Job. He knows who and what we are, and He cares. The question was: “Look at him, see who and what he is.” We may rejoice in God’s future blessings, but those things are down the road, passed death or the translation. The Lord is interested in who and what we are at this moment. And not only does God know us and analyze us, but He might even take a certain kind of sinless pride in us. That is, if there is room for God to take any pride in us.
Sunday afternoon, I did something which I instantly regretted. I emailed an unpublished article of mine to a handful of people, implying, “Read this, isn’t it great?” I was immediately convicted of my pride, and I wished that could have reversed my decision. We don’t need to promote ourselves, because God knows us better than any of our friends ever can. If the Lord wants to say “Hast thou considered my servant,” He will do it. And it might be in a negative way. It might BE a blessing, or as in the case of Job, it might create all kinds of trials. Great men are men in which the Lord can boast and the opinions of other don’t matter.
The second thing in regard to Job was Satan’s immediate CURIOSITY.
When I was a missionary on deputation forty years ago, I was visiting a hillbilly Kentucky church. The ignorant pastor said that he refused to support the last visiting missionary because he didn’t believe in the omnipresence of Satan. Needless to say, I didn’t get any support from that man either. Satan is not omnipresent, nor omniscient, nor omnipotent. He is not a true god, and thankfully, there is no way that he can ever defeat Jehovah. Lacking omnipresence, Satan cannot take personal, direct interest in everybody. While he is plaguing Job, it is impossible for him to tempt Abraham or Lot. This does not mean that he hasn’t got ten million subordinates, who work at his command. There may very well be a dozen evil angels in this very room with us tonight. That is something which we may never be able to prove or deny. Although Satan may not take direct action against you, he still likely has a dossier on us all.
Even though Satan can’t be bothered with minnows, fleas and little gophers like us, when Jehovah said, “Have you considered my servant Job,” Satan indicated that he knew him well. The point is – the greater the servant of God, the more direct interest Satan has in us. And it is not just interest – Satan is the accuser and adversary of the brethren. “Yes Jehovah, Job is a fine man, but it’s all because you coddled and spoil him. He is actually a wimp who would crumble to dust if you’d stop protecting him.” Beware of what the Devil would like to do to you, as you mature in the Lord.
But what was the reason that Satan knew Job so well? Was it because of all the wealth that he had? I am reasonably sure that Satan gives away more wealth than the Lord ever gives. Was Satan interested in Job because that man had influence and power? Possibly, depending on the kind of power that he could wield. But more than these, I think that Satan was concerned about Job because of his witness. Judging from the testimony in this chapter, Job claimed the Lord and endeavored to glorify His Name. That is what caught Satan’s attention, and he hated the very thought of it. And Job’s witness of the Lord extended itself to the formal teaching of others. Job 4:3 – “Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.” I am sure that he taught his children well in the things of God. They were brought up “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” But Job’s instruction about the Lord appears to have included many others as well. Was this something which him great in the sight of God? Did this turn him into a spiritual target for Satan? Why is it that Satan doesn’t take more of an interest in us?
This brings us back to Job’s ASTOUNDING CHARACTER.
You might remember that years ago, I used William Bennet’s “Book of Virtues” for our camp devotionals. Bennet, the politician, is a Roman Catholic and his book implied that the work of religion is the formation of good character. There were many good lessons, but it was essential that I add some Bible to Bennet’s book. No man has worthy character who lives without God and the Word of God. Job was a man of eminently worthy character.
First he was perfect and upright. The word “upright” means that he was “straight, honest, unimpeachable.” But “perfect” comes from the word “tawm” which is a little more complex. Its root means “complete,” but it goes on to touch on, “pious, plain” and even “dear.” The Bible says Jacob was “tawm,” a plain man – while his brother was more complex and interesting. And the boards of the Tabernacle were to be “tawm” – perfect. Apparently a “tawm” man is one who is especially joined to the Lord and is thus “dear” to Him. But something else, Job 9:20-21 indicates that Job was unaware that God considered him “perfect.” “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.” Apparently, Job was an humble man – and that was a part of his good character. When we think that we are perfect, or important, or great, in God’s sight, we definitely are not.
When we think about the character of a great man, we must think about his hatred of evil. Job eschewed evil; he hated it and turned from it as he would from the face of Satan himself. Isn’t it ironic in all today’s political talk of moral values, family values, virtue, modesty, honesty and so forth that the lips which speak so well are not often joined to hands and feet that eschew evil? Job tried to thwart evil and dispel its dirty, misty fog.
We see that he was a father who was greatly concerned about the spiritual condition of his children. Obviously his children were grown, but he still offered sacrifices and prayer on their behalf. He was worried that his instructions might be filed away in some dark, unused corner of their minds. The man displayed spiritual insight and spiritual concern, to go along with their physical conditions.
And Job knew the relative value of the things of the earth. “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.” Job knew that a man’s life “consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” It is not whether or not we own an Acura or BMW that makes us great. If we are not great on the inside, we will never be great. And if we are great of character and heart, then we are great even in the midst of poverty. What is more, when Job lost all his wealth and health, great pressure was placed upon him to corrupt that pure heart of his. His dear wife, the closest thing to his heart, said “Go ahead, curse God and end all your misery.” But that man of God had to turn from his wife’s bitter words, even though it alienated her. “Oh, you speak like one of the really foolish women. “If we receive God’s good things, shouldn’t we also quietly receive his harsher gifts?” In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Strength of character means we will stand on what’s right even though our closest loved one disagrees.
Why, what was the key to the astounding character of that great man? I believe it was that Job feared God. Job had a reverence for the Lord which bound him to say, “Thy will be done, not mine, Lord.” Job’s heart and reverence made him say, “God is always right in everything He does, even when it hurts me. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”