“The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Job 1:21

About the time of Melchizedek and Abraham there also lived a man named Job. Job was a good man of great wealth, learning, and influence. He loved and reverenced God and appreciated jus- tice, and God loved him. Job and his wife had seven sons and three daughters.

A merchant prince, Job was considered to be one of the great men of his time, yet he thought of the widows and orphans and was generous to them. Satan told God that Job loved him only because he had been so greatly blessed. So God allowed Satan to test Job.

Suddenly terrible disasters came upon Job—his children, wealth, influence, and health were all taken from him. In spite of all that happened, Job’s faith did not waver. He said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.” Job’s wife did not share his trust and said to him, “Curse God and die.” Job 13:15; 2:9

Three friends came to visit Job and comfort him in his trials, but they, too, felt that Job was to blame for all the misfortunes that had come upon him. They said that he must surely have sinned against God. Job is remembered to this day for his great patience, yet at one point, his trials were so heavy and severe that he wished he were asleep in sheol (a Hebrew word meaning grave—the condition of being dead) and asked only that he would be remembered in the resurrection. Job 14:13

Eventually God brought blessings again to Job. He received more than he ever had before (Job 42:10). What a beautiful picture this is of the history of mankind!

Man was removed from his perfect garden home and suddenly found himself having to work hard to have enough to eat. In the Millennial age humanity will be restored to all that they have had, and even more! The curse of sin and death will be removed and the blessings of God will flow to the human family for a thousand years, giving life to all who have gone into death, and multiplying the blessings of the earth more than double.

Terrible disasters came upon Job but his faith did not waver.