06.24.2015 Old Testament: Job 1.13–19

To read the Bible in a year, read Job 1–3 on June 24, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

If Satan appears to show mercy, he only does it that he might show more brutality, such as during the Inquisition when the torturers would break someone’s arm, then show mercy by helping him to heal, but only that they might break his arm again! Therefore, if Satan shows you mercy, watch out, he seeks to hit you hard, as he did with Job,

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when 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!” 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!” 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!” 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, and 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!” (Job 1.13–19). 

Initially it seems merciful to let one servant survive in each of these scenarios, but you can see that Satan only allowed one servant to survive, because he timed everything perfectly that the servants might arrive one after another, just as one had completed telling his bad news to Job.

If Satan had killed all the servants, it would have taken time for the news to reach Job. It still would have hurt when he heard what happened in each case, but the rapid fire method that Satan used just made it that much harder on Job.