Eomund said:
Also note that in Job is the only time we see Satan come before God. Now if I remember correctly (all from memory at this time) the reason God allowed Satan to test Job was Job's pride. Ever hear of the saying "Pride comes before a fall"?
And I almost pity you for not being able to see the goodness of God. I pray that some day he will let you see Him for who he truly is. Until then you are free to believe or not believe in whatever you want, so long as it does not harm anyone else. |
As I recall, Job was miding his own business being the goodiest goody-two-shoes to walk the earth and GOD went bragging to Satan about how much Job loved him. (Five minutes of Internet searching later ...)
1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
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.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
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?
9 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.
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.
So yeah, Job was minding his own business when God and Satan got to talking; God bragged about how much Job loved him; Satan said "well I bet he wouldn't love you if you were mean to him"; and God said, "OH YEAH?? Well go do your worst (without personally hurting him) and I bet he'll still love me!" And then Satan went and killed Job's entire family and laid waste all his belongings.
"In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
AND THEN Satan said "well yeah but I bet he'd hate you if he himself was hurt!" And God said "OH YEAH?? Well go do your worst (without killing him) and I bet he'll still love me!"
And so on. So to sum up: God's a douchebag in this story. Satan didn't even have to WORK at it. After two sentences God was letting him torture His most loyal follower just to prove he would still love God.
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