The patience of Job

Who was Job?

Job was a man from the land of Uz (Job 1:1). The bible calls him “the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:3) in his time. Uz was the son of Aram, (Genesis 10:23) who was in turn the son of Shem. (Genesis 10:22) Aram was also the brother of Arphaxad by whom Abraham was descended from. Arphaxad had a son Salah, and from Salah came Eber. (Genesis 10:24) Eber had two sons: Peleg and Joktan. (Genesis 10:25) The descendants of Peleg were:

• Reu the son of Peleg (Genesis 11:18)

• Serug the son of Reu (Genesis 11:20)

• Nahor the son of Serug (Genesis 11:22)

• Terah the son of Nahor (Genesis 11:24)

• Abraham the son of Terah (Genesis 11:26)

Joktan was the younger brother of Peleg. He had thirteen sons:

Genesis 10:26-29 "And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan."

The names of Joktan’s thirteen sons were: Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. Notice the name of his 13th son was Jobab? Moreover, we also read in the next verse:

Genesis 10:30 "And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east."

According to this verse, the dwelling of Joktan and his children was spread out from Mesha unto Sephar, a mount of the east. That is a reference to Job whom the bible refers to as “the greatest of all the men of the east” in Job 1:3.

Genesis 9:26 "And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant."

The LORD God of Shem is the LORD God of the Holy Bible. Stephen tells us in Acts 7:38 that Moses (descendent of Shem) received the oracles of God in mount Sinai. Paul further confirms in Romans 3:2 that unto the Jews (descendents of Shem) were the oracles of God committed. Shem is a people, and so the writer of the book of Job must also be a Shemite. The name of Job, which was a reduced form of “Jobab,” the 13th son of Joktan, was a Shemite.

Job 32:2 "Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God."

Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram was the fifth person with Job and his three friends. Aram (A-Ram) was the fifth son of Shem, and Uz (“the land of Uz” Job 1:1) was the eldest son of Aram. The book of Job was said to be the oldest book in the 66 books of the Holy Bible. Job lived a long time ago, even before the time of Abraham.

Job 15:10 "With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father."

In those days, men lived to be very old. That’s why we see in this verse that there were sill many grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than Job’s father, still living with Job and his three friends. The word “elder” does not just mean “older.” For example, you can have an uncle who is technically your elder, but could be younger in age than you. The word “elder” is used to denote people who are above you in the family tree. In this case, there were many grayheaded and very aged men who were generations elder than Job’s father still living with them. This verse also tells us that the writer of Job must have been among the first few generations that lived right after the Great Flood of Genesis destroyed the earth.

Genesis 10:25 "And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan."

This verse tells us that Peleg was so named because during the time when he was born was the earth divided. We know from Genesis 11:7-9 that God divided man at Babel by confounding their common language so that they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth. Joktan was the younger brother of Peleg and Jobab was the 13th son of Joktan, which explains why we find mentions of the Sabeans in Job 1:15 and the Chaldeans in Job 1:17 as foreigners who came and attacked Job. That further tells us that Job was born in the first two or three generations after the Babel incident. How old did Job lived?

Job 42:16-17 "After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died, being old and full of days."

Job lived another 140 years after the trial of his faith, being old and full of years. Moreover, Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite also tells us in Job 32:6 that Job was already a very old man during the time of his trial. Therefore, Job must have lived much longer than 140 years in total. Compare these two verses:

Job 1:3 "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."

Job 42:12 "So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Job 1:3 tells us the things that Job had in his possession before the trial of his faith. Job 42:12 tells us the LORD literally doubled everything he had after the trial of his faith. That would also include the length of his days upon earth. So, where Job used to have 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 she asses before the trial of his faith, he now owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 she asses. The LORD literally doubled everything that Job had before the trial of his faith, and that apparently includes his lifespan. If Job lived another 140 years after the trial of his faith, that means that he was 70 years old at the time of his trial. Therefore, Job lived to be 210 years of age in total. He lived longer than Abraham (175 years), Isaac (180 years), Jacob (147 years), Joseph (110 years), Moses (120 years) and Joshua (110 years), being old and full of days. That was his reward of “patience,” according to:

James 5:10-11 "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

Job was an example of suffering affliction, and of patience for every born again believer.

Job 1:8 "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?"

Job was not only the greatest of all the men of the east in his time, (Job 1:3) he was also an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil. God calls him a “perfect and upright man,” and there was none like unto him in the earth. The context of Job 1:8 was about a conversation between God and Satan in heaven. God knew exactly what Satan would say when he posted him the question, by which the Devil replied:

Job 1:9-11 "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 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. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face."

Satan is an angelic being, and angels could see things that our physical eyes could not see. Notice in his reply to God “Hast not thou made an hedge about him?” This goes to show that there was an invisible “hedge” that God has made about Job, and about this house, and about all that he had on every side. What is a hedge? Isaiah gives us a picture in:

Isaiah 5:5-7 "And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry."

Therefore, a hedge is like a wall that surrounds a vineyard to protect it from intruders. This is that hedge that God has made about Job, and about this house, and about all that he had on every side. When a vineyard is protected, the fruits within are allowed to grow and flourish. Likewise, when the labour of your works are protected, that is God blessing the work of your hands, and caused your substance to increase, as did he to Job in Job 1:10. When God remove his hedge, when the wall is broken down, that also means that the vineyard is no longer protected, the fruits are now vulnerable to intruders who will come and eat up the fruit of your labour, and tread down everything that is within. That was what happened to Job in:

Job 1:12 "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."

God turned the things that Job possessed on earth over to Satan: the seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household of seven sons and three daughters, and many servants. In Satan’s estimation, if Job were to lose all those earthly possessions, he would curse God to his face. Now, that would be the response of a natural man who receiveth not the things of God, but as a born again believer, Job was no “natural man,” as in:

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

The things of the Spirit of God were not foolishness unto Job. He knew to discern them as a spiritual man:

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Job had “the mind of Christ” according to Paul. This is that mind of the Lord that may be instructed by the Spirit of God. That was how Job was able to make the right judgment when all those evil things fell upon him:

Job 1:21-22 "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. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

Indeed, it was the LORD who gave, and the same LORD who hath taken away. That was the mind of Christ in Job that made the judgment. That was the Spirit of God instructing a born again believer via the mind of the Lord, that gave him the understanding, and caused him to bless the name of the LORD in any situation.

1 Peter 3:4 "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

It was the “hidden man of the heart” in Job that Satan could not see, that caused him to believe that Job would curse God to his face if all his earthly possessions were to be taken away from him. Against the accusations of the Devil were these words of understanding: “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.” This is just like how the Devil wanted to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ:

Matthew 4:9-10 "And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

Jesus resisted Satan with the written words of the LORD. Likewise, Job resisted the Devil’s temptation with the words of the Lord, and for this, he sinned not, nor charge God foolishly. That also goes to show that in the Devil’s eyes, all he saw in Job was a natural man who would curse God in his face should God remove his blessing and protection from round about him. Of course, God knew what was in the mind of the Devil, and to prove his point, God put him to a challenge.

Then, God removed his hedge about Job and about all that he had, and allowed Satan to destroy all his substance on earth, and even permission to kill all his children. Satan then wreck havoc with the permission that he had been given, and sent Job into a state of misery. BTW, that also goes to show that apart from God's permission, Satan could do nothing in the life of a born again believer. But the sad truth is that God will put every believer to test, and for a good reason of course. So after Satan done his job, and was eagerly anticipating that Job would curse God to the face, Job responded: “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 1:21)

Job not only did not curse God to the face, he blessed God instead. Satan certainly did not anticipate this kind of reaction from Job. In his beastly mind, he could not understand how Job could still bless God even though God took away all that he had on earth. Satan could not see the “hidden man of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4) in the earthen vessel of a born again believer, and neither could he understand it. Still unconvinced, the Devil did the second time to Job:

Job 2:4-6 "And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."

And just like how he allowed it the first time, God allowed Satan to wreck Job's life the second time. But this time, it was a little different, in that God allowed the Devil to destroy Job's health and to inflict pain in his body so that he may curse God to his face according as what the Devil had anticipated that Job would do: “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” And so the Devil went off with God's permission and did what he thought would give him the victory over God. He smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown still thinking that Job would curse God to his face. This brings us to the following verse:

Job 2:9 "¶ Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."

The Devil even incited Job's wife to do his will. Nevertheless, notice Job's reaction in all of these:

Job 2:10 "But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips."

Again, Job resisted the Devil with the words of understanding: “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job maintained his integrity despite the evil that he had received. He could not be moved, not even by his wife, who thought that he had the legitimate right to be angry with God. Satan certainly did not anticipate that kind of response from Job. He could never understand how Job was able to resist himself from cursing God to his face despite all the evil that he has received from the hand of God.

James 5:11 "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

Job's supernatural ability to endure was beyond what Satan could comprehend. Well, more than 2,000 years later, Satan still thought that he had the victory when he crucified Jesus on the cross only to find out later that it was God who had the victory.

1 Corinthians 2:7-8 "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

The Devil could never understand the wisdom of God concerning Jesus Christ who willingly came as the Lamb of God to become the propitiation for the sins of the whole world, for if he had known it, he would not have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ. That goes to show that the will of God is a mystery to the Devil. It is foolishness unto him. In his beastly mind, he could never perceive the things of the Spirit of God nor the workings of God in the life of a born again believer. These things are hidden from him.

1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

While it is true that man was made a little lower than angels (Psalms 8:5), but in the same verse it also says God “hast crowned him with glory and honour.” A born again believer is a king, and there is a greater than Satan in the earthen vessel of every born again believer. It was the “hidden man of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4) that the Devil could not see, that had gotten Job the victory. It was the “patience of Job” (James 5:11) in enduring the tribulation set upon him that had gotten him the victory.

Romans 5:3-5 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Paul tells us in Romans 5:3-4 to glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed. If we endure, that is a sign of the “love of God” (Romans 3:5) being shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. It was by the “love of God” in us that allowed us to patiently endure tribulation. The “love of God” is also the “love of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10) in a born again believer, “the truth” being a reference to Jesus Christ and the word of God in the 66 books of the Holy Bible. Apart from the love of the truth, one cannot love God.

Proverbs 24:16 "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."

A just man falleth seven times. It is the love of the written word of God “it is written…” (Matthew 4:10) and obedience to the written word of God that will allow us to stand up again and again. This verse is a reference to:

Psalms 12:6 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Even as God shall preserve his words, he shall also preserve his words sown in the earthen vessel of every born again believer, whosoever believeth in the words of the Lord. But fire is the instrument which God use to separate the dross from the silver. A just man must necessarily go through fiery trials in his lifetime.

Proverbs 25:4 "Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer."

DROSS, n. [G.] Waste matter; refuse; any worthless matter separated from the better part; impure matter.

God the Father will purify the faith that is in the earthen vessel of a born again believer. In purging him of the worthless things in this life, he will bring forth more fruit as a son of God.

1 Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

Tribulation is the means by which our faith in the word of God is tried. In allowing us to go through tribulation, God the Father is in fact doing a work in us for the glory of the kingdom to come. Born again believers are called to endure tribulation before they can enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22; John 16:33). Every true believer will endure the tribulation that is come upon them with a believing heart because the words of the Lord is their peace.

Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

Job was tried for a purpose, and God the Father was the one who tried him. Every son of God will produce the fruit of the Spirit in their lifetimes.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

“Temperance” is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and it comes from the trial of our faith, even as a piece of ordinary glass is put through fire and is toughened in the process to become tempered glass, or lime powder is put into a temperature kiln and becomes tempered mortar.

Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

Those who are truly saved will bring forth fruit with patience. They will patiently endure the tribulation that is come upon them, just like Job, whose faith was tried by fire. In allowing Job to go through much tribulation, God will likewise allow the church, the body of Christ, to go through much tribulation. If you are a born again child of God, expect to go through much tribulation in your life, because by mercy and truth, iniquity is purged. (Proverbs 16:6) Below are two of my personal testimonies written for all to read. The things that had happened to me was my Heavenly Father doing a good work in me. He purgeth me as he purgeth a branch so that I may bring forth more fruit as a child of God.

Testimonies:

• God's chastisement on me (my testimony of repentance)

• How God delivered me from the Singapore government's 'No Jab No Job'

Are you going through a rough period in your life?

Are you thinking where is God in the midst of all your troubles?

Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

1 Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

My born again bible-believing brethren, be encouraged in the LORD. Job did. He kept his faith to the very end. This world is not our home, but a temporal residence for our body. We may go through tough times in our lives, trials and tribulations abound. But know that the LORD is ever-present with us, every moment. His grace is ever-sufficient for us, always sufficient. His Spirit is ever-present in the 66 Books of the Holy Bible. He talks with us and he walks with us through the pages of scripture. He is gentle, and he is meek. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. One day, our earthen vessels will expire, and we will be ever-present with the LORD. BTW, eternity is not just a very long time, my brethren. It has no beginning, and it has no end, and this is what God the Father has given us: eternal life, for believing in his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ - the Word of God.