And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 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 1:2-3
Job knew that he was blessed for he had a large family and great possessions, but things were about to change. In the following verses all that Job held near and dear would be taken away. He would lose his children, his possessions, and his health. A contest was about to take place in the heavenlies of which he would know nothing about, and of which he would not understand.
Job’s grown children would have parties and he would be afraid that in their revelry that they might have sinned, and he would soon offer sacrifices to God in their behalf. Job had everything going for him, but what would he do if suddenly things we against him? In one day, when God challenged Satan about Job, everything went from perfect to terrible. 1:13-19 says,
“And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yes, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you. 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 you. 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, yes, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell you.
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 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 you.”
There are times when we have been brought to our knees by bad news, but I doubt that any of us have had a day like Job. Another thing, did you notice that with each event that only one escaped to bear the bad news. Satan didn’t want everyone to die. He wanted at least one to tell Job about his losses.
When bad news comes, and it will, we can still count on the fact that God is in control. We can know with great assurance that God has not forsaken us, and that He still loves us and that His grace is sufficient for us. We can also know that a better day is coming—get ready for it. Amen and amen.
