Job Did Not Blame God (Job 1:13–22)

 

Job Did Not Blame God (Job 1:13–22)

God allowed Satan to strike everything Job had. This was not because God was randomly tormenting Job. God knew that Satan’s lies would be exposed as lies, and God also wanted to teach Job the mysteries of the heavenly kingdom.

However, not everyone receives suffering as severe as Job, and some even experience more severe suffering. But we believe that God trains each person with love and truth.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

In Job 1:13–22, Satan struck all of Job’s property and his children without mercy, but Job did not blame the LORD God. By this, Satan’s lies were exposed, and he suffered shame and defeat. From beginning to end, everything is accomplished according to God’s will.

The Sabeans seized the oxen and donkeys

13 “One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’” (Job 1:13–15)

Satan’s merciless attack began. First, the Sabeans seized Job’s oxen and donkeys. At that time, Job’s children were eating food and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house. The people around Job were potential enemies who could attack at any time. But because God set a hedge of protection around him, they could not find even a small gap. However, the moment God removed that hedge, they attacked without mercy, killed the servants, and seized the oxen and donkeys.

Abraham received God’s promise and left his homeland, relatives, and his father’s household, and moved to the land of Canaan. The surrounding area was full of warlike Canaanite tribes. There is a saying, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.” However, Abraham served the one true LORD God, while the Canaanites worshiped their gods. They were the overwhelming majority, and Abraham was alone.

But because God set a hedge around him, no one could dare harm him (Genesis 15:1). Also, with a small number of men, he defeated the large Canaanite coalition army and rescued his nephew Lot. This was because the LORD Almighty was his shield and protection. Therefore, Abraham continued to hold onto the promise of the Almighty God and kept his faith.

Fire fell from heaven

“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’” (Job 1:16)

This time, the fire of God from heaven came down and burned Job’s sheep and servants. This does not mean God sent fire to strike Job. Everything is created by God and belongs to Him. Therefore, it means that God allowed Satan to have authority to bring down fire. When the Israelites complained to the LORD in the wilderness, the LORD heard and became angry, and fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp (Numbers 11:1).

Every year, wildfires cause loss of life and property. Various missiles and artillery shells can turn a city into a sea of fire in an instant. And the destructive power of nuclear weapons is frightening. God judged the world with a flood in Noah’s time, but He gave a covenant that He would never again destroy it with water (Genesis 9:15). In the future, God will judge this world with fire.

“But the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” (2 Peter 3:7)

The Chaldeans seized the camels and killed the servants with the sword

“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’” (Job 1:17)

This time, the Chaldeans formed three raiding groups, suddenly seized the camels, and killed the servants with the sword. Camels and servants were valuable possessions to Job. Satan’s aim makes no distinction between life or property when inflicting loss.

In ancient times clothing and livestock were wealth, but today most people have bank accounts. Through voice phishing and various forms of digital fraud, bank balances suddenly disappear. People invest in stocks or other things, then their balances disappear or they end up in debt. Banks can fail and cause financial loss. Unexpected accidents or disease can cause heavy expenses.

In this way, even banks that seem safe are full of danger. Even houses thought to be safe can be broken into by thieves. There is no safe place in this world. You might suddenly lose your job, or be falsely accused, or cancer might develop.

God blessed David and made him king of a united kingdom and established the nation strongly. But one day his son Absalom rebelled, drove out his father, and tried to be king himself. David fled barefoot from the sword of his son, weeping bitterly (2 Samuel 15:30). He had defeated all his enemies around him and no one dared oppose him, but he was struck in an unexpected way by his own son.

After the conquest of Canaan, through the period of the judges, and then the monarchy, Israel went down the path of corruption. The glory and amazing victories of the Passover, walking through the Red Sea on dry ground, and bringing down Jericho by trumpet and shouting, and the kingdom of David — these made Israel geopolitically unmatched in strength. But after Solomon, the nation was divided north and south, and it fell into idolatry.

Thus, the northern kingdom of Israel had already been destroyed by Assyria, and the southern kingdom of Judah also had fallen into a condition where it could collapse at any moment as the Babylonian Empire was rising. At that time, God sent the prophet Jeremiah and urged the king and the people to listen to the word of the LORD, repent, and obey. But they believed the lie that because the temple was in Jerusalem, they were “absolutely” safe in every situation.

“Do not trust in deceptive words and say, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!’” (Jeremiah 7:4)

Instead of turning their hearts back to God in repentance and obedience, they depended on the temple building standing on Mount Moriah. The prophet continued to warn them that if they held on to their false beliefs and did not repent and turn back, God would destroy that house.

“You have done all these things,” declares the LORD, “and I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Therefore, what I did to Shiloh I will now do to the house that bears my Name, the temple you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors.” (Jeremiah 7:13–14)

Shiloh, mentioned in Jeremiah 7:14, was the place where the ark of the covenant of the LORD once was — it was the center of worship until the united kingdom was established. Then, when the Philistine army came and attacked them, they brought the ark from Shiloh into the battlefield (1 Samuel 4:1–11), because they falsely believed that the ark of the covenant would protect them. In the end, they were defeated in battle, and the ark was captured by the Philistines. It is not the temple or the ark that protects — the LORD Almighty Himself protects.

Nothing in this world — even if it is called the temple or the ark — can secure safety. A bank account or a job also cannot guarantee security. Our safety is in the hand of the LORD alone and is in the kingdom of God. Things in this world are destroyed by moth and rust, and thieves steal them, but the hope in heaven cannot be harmed (Matthew 6:19–20).

A great wind strikes Job’s children

“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’” (Job 1:18–19)

This time, a great wind (like a tornado) came and collapsed the house where Job’s sons were celebrating, and they were killed. A hurricane can swallow ships, and a tornado can instantly swallow houses and lives. These disasters strike suddenly. Today, even though weather forecasting has advanced and we can prepare to some extent, people are powerless before overwhelming forces of nature.

Job’s children were eating and drinking wine when disaster struck. It is a human limitation that no one sees one step ahead. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. When Jesus ascended before His disciples, He said that just as they saw Him go into heaven, He would come back on the clouds (Acts 1:11). But the day when the Lord returns as Judge of all — no one knows (Matthew 24:36).

In Mark 4:35–41, Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Suddenly, a furious storm came up, fierce enough to swallow the boat. The disciples woke Jesus, who was sleeping, and pleaded, asking if He did not care that they were about to die. Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said, “Quiet! Be still!” and the wind died down completely and became calm. Jesus was rebuking the evil one — Satan — who was working behind it to frighten and overwhelm the disciples.

Job did not blame God

“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:20–22)

Job was devastated. In grief and pain, he tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell to the ground. Job had only one place to go — before the LORD God. He poured out the sorrow and pain of his heart before the LORD. He said that he came with nothing, and he returns with nothing. Birth and death are not in human control — they belong to the LORD.

He worshiped, saying that the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away — may the name of the LORD be praised. In this shocking and horrifying situation, Job did not blame or curse the LORD. This exposed Satan’s lie, and once again Satan was defeated.

But Satan does not easily retreat. Until his allotted time is over, he continues to deceive, threaten, and try to make people fall. Satan tempted Jesus three times in the wilderness. Each time, Jesus defeated the devil with the Word of God. He left for a time, but until he is destroyed, he never stops deceiving.

The devil does not stop his stubborn attacks even though he knows he cannot win. Even when Jesus was crucified, he mocked Him, saying, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40). But Jesus rejected the voice of the devil and entrusted His spirit to God the Father. Jesus Christ obeyed the Father even unto death. Through the blood of the Son of God, He broke the chains of Satan’s lies, freed people, and gave eternal life. Amen.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen (Revelation 1:5b-6).

November 9, 2025

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.