Once upon a time there was a man named Job. Job lived in a land called Uz. He was a very, very good man. Job loved God and did everything he could to please God. He was as rich as the king and had many animals: camels, sheep and oxen. He also had a large family with ten children. He was very happy.
One day, in the heavenly throne room, God spoke to the devil. The devil, a fallen angel, wanted to test Job’s faith to see if Job would trust God even in difficult times. God allowed the devil to test Job, but he was not allowed to do anything to him that could kill him.
First, messengers came to Job to bring him bad news. “Robbers have stolen your oxen and donkeys and killed the servants,” they said. Shortly afterwards another messenger came: “Fire from heaven has burned your sheep and shepherds!” Again a messenger came: “Robbers have taken away your camels!”
Job was sad, but it got worse. Another messenger said: “A great disaster happened! A strong wind blew over the house where your children were celebrating, and it collapsed. All your children have died!”
Job was very sad. He felt as if his heart was broken. But then Job fell to his knees and prayed. He said, “God has given me everything, and God can take everything. I will still trust God.”
Many days passed, and Job was still sad. But he knew that God loved him and had not forgotten him. One day, everything turned out for the better. God blessed Job again!
Job got even more wealth than before—twice as many animals: thousands of sheep, camels, cattle, and donkeys. His house became large and beautiful again, and there was laughter and joy everywhere.
But the best thing was: God gave Job another ten children! They were healthy and cheerful, and his daughters were the most beautiful in the whole country. Job loved his family with all his heart.
Job grew very old and saw his children and grandchildren grow up. He lived many happy years and knew that God had always been with him – in the difficult times and in the good times.
In the end, Job died old and content. He had a long, happy life because he had trusted God. And God had not forgotten him.
For God loves all those who trust in Him – including you! 😊
Message of history
Even when we are very bad and sad, we can trust God. God is always with us and loves us even in difficult times.
Bible passage
The story of Job and his trials in Job 1:1-22 reads in the Schlachter 2000 translation:
“There was a man in the land of Uz, his name was Job, and this man was perfect and righteous, God-fearing, and he shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 And his possession was 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 donkeys, and a great many servants; and this man was greater than all the sons of the East. 4 And his sons used to hold banquets abroad, each one in his own house on his own day, and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 But as often as the days of the banquet were over, Job sent and sanctified them; and he arose early in the morning and offered burnt offerings for each of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts.” So did Job all the time.
6 Now it came to pass one day that the sons of God stood before the Lord, and among them came Satan. 7 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Where do you come from?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “Of roaming the earth and wandering about on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you paid attention to my servant Job? For there is no one like him on earth, a man so perfect and righteous, who fears God and shuns evil. 9 But Satan answered the Lord and said, “Is Job godly in vain? 10 Have you not shielded him, and his house, and all that he has around him? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his flocks are spreading throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and see if he will not publicly renounce you. 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has shall be in your hand; only against him you shall not stretch out your hand. And Satan departed from the face of the Lord.
13 And it came to pass one day, while his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother, 14 that a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, 15 and the Sabaeans invaded and took them away, and the servants struck them down with the edge of the sword. and I escaped alone to tell you! 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned and consumed the sheep and the servants; and I escaped alone to tell you! 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three divisions, fell upon the camels and led them away, and the servants struck them down with the edge of the sword; and I escaped alone to tell you! 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their firstborn brother, 19 and behold, a violent wind came from beyond the wilderness and seized the four corners of the house, so that it fell on the young people, and they died; and I escaped alone to tell you!
20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head; And he fell to the ground, worshiped, 21 and said, “I came out of my mother’s womb naked, and naked I will return to it.” The Lord has given, the Lord has taken; the name of the Lord be praised! 22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor did he behave improperly against God.”
