“So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’ He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’”
- Job 2:7-10 -

Here, in Job chapter 2, the conversation between God and Satan intensifies as again God asks Satan if he has seen his servant Job. Job has become the evidence that faith is not linked to prosperity – his integrity has held even though his life has fallen apart (v 3). Here we are told an important but challenging detail of the whole book, one that will frame the discussions that follow: Job’s misfortune has come without reason. Job is the evidence that human beings can love God whatever the circumstances.

Satan, however, is not content that the evidence for this is good enough and so he continues the test and removes Job’s health. At this moment, Job reaches his lowest ebb: verse 7 tells us his body was covered in sores. Amidst this suffering, God’s evidence holds true. In the middle of oppression, Job still does not sin. Despite calls from his wife, Job refuses to curse God but instead he claims that trouble needs to be accepted in the same way as blessings.

Prayer: Lord, help us to hold fast our integrity even though we go through severe trials in life. We may be evidence that human beings can love God whatever the circumstances. Amen!