The squeaky wheel gets the grace.

Today my bible reading was about Job. According to my bible, it's hard to place Job chronologically, so they just sort of stick him in before Abraham. Whatever. That type of random story doesn't really make much difference if it's terribly out of place, so I don't mind if it isn't perfect.

Anywho....

Job - he was the picture of devotion to God. He even did a lot of prayer and sacrifice on behalf of his children, just in case they had sinned against God while they were out having one of their monthly dinner parties (and yes, it pretty much described them as monthly dinner parties that would take place at a different one of the 10 kids' homes each month!) So, Job, devout man that he is, had everything one would dream of - wonderful wife, beautiful family, wealth in the form of bajillions of camels and sheep, etc. Things are going well for Mr. Job.

Until -

Satan somehow joins up with this band of Angels who have gone to visit with God. Why is this? Who knows. He's always been a shit-stirrer. So God asks Satan what he's been up to, and Satan tells him that he's just been traveling in and out of the earth and amongst the people. Y'all, he could have said, "just chillin'," and I wouldn't have been more surprised. So God asks Satan, "Have you considered my man Job, over here?" Which I don't understand. Because it sounds like God is putting Job up for a promotion, when really he's about to drop the hammer on him. I guess Satan was on the search for souls. Anyway, Satan says, "Yeah, yeah. Sure he's devout NOW, but if you take away all his wealth, then he'll turn away from you in a hot minute."

And God says, "Do it. See what happens. But you can't hurt his personal self."

And Satan does - kills Job's children and his flocks and his camels and burns his fields...all of it completely wiped out in one day. And of course, Job, being devout as he is, apologizes to God for whatever wrong-doing he must have done and tells him he's grateful for what he has left.

Does God stop there?

Oh, no. When that doesn't turn Job away from God, Satan goes back to God and says, "Yeah, well, I bet he'll turn away if you make him sick."

And of course, God, being that loving, kindly father of blessings says, "Ok. Do it. See what happens. But you can't kill him."

And so poor Job now is sitting around afflicted by all these gross sores and he can't eat or drink and he just wishes he were never born (George Bailey!) in the first place because surely he was not meant to live on earth to only have all this bad stuff happen to him...but he never curses God. Not one time.

Now, surely tomorrow I will come to some point where Job is rewarded greatly for his Faithfulness, but as of today, God seems mean and like he's in a schoolyard "King of the Hill" battle with Satan for the souls of man.

All I have learned from this story of Job is: If you are greatly faithful to the Lord, then the Lord will allow you to be tested equally as great. If you aren't as devout, you'll likely be left alone because Satan feels he has an open door with you.

And this is something I've actually seen firsthand lately. It's not my story to tell, so I'll refrain, but it sounds to me much like the story of Job (so far as I've read). The faithful are tried.

Why? What is the point in that? It sounds like the type of relationship that psychologist tell you to flee from when in human form. If someone is constantly testing you, rewarding you every so often, it's a sick, twisted relationship because true love is not a game of "how long will you love me." It's the game people play when they are insecure - the "I'll push you away and if you stay you really love me but if you go, then you never really loved me to begin with so screw you."

Ben pointed out to me this morning, as I was telling him how sick and unfair this sounded, that I needed to stay mindful that this is Old Testament God we're talking about. And I do know that there is supposed to be a difference. Old Testament God was a God of vengeance and anger, where as New Testament God is supposed to be a little softer and kinder. I guess because he got to outsource some of his stress with man to Jesus. Who knows. I guess I'll figure that out later. But I can't help but worry and wonder about this Old Testament God, as it is still the God of the Jews today, and it is this type of figure who plays prominently into other world religions. Who is this God and why does he play games with our lives? Are we here solely for his amusement? What good is it to be faithful if the faithful have all the bad stuff happen to them? What lesson am I to learn from Job, since this story so far seems to discourage one from their faithfulness?

Inquiring minds want to know.