Why?: A Study Through JobSample

By Danny Saavedra

“Then the Lord asked Satan, ‘Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.’ Satan replied to the Lord, ‘Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!’ ‘All right, do with him as you please,’ the Lord said to Satan. ‘But spare his life.’”—Job 2:3–6 (NLT)

I am not a betting man, but I do know a few avid gamblers. And from what I’ve gathered, there’s nothing more appealing to a gambler than a sure thing.

Today’s passage portrays Satan as someone who believes he’s stumbled upon a sure thing. He has finally outsmarted God.

You see, when God points out that Job “has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause” (Job 2:3 NLT), Satan has a rebuttal, a plan. What is it? To take Job’s health. Satan says, “A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!” This final straw will be in addition to everything Job lost in chapter one, which included his wealth, his servants, and his children. 

Here’s the thing, though: While Satan might know the inner workings of sinful humans, he doesn’t understand the inner workings of men and women who truly love and fear God. 

When we receive Jesus, we become new creations. The Spirit of the living God takes up residence inside of us to equip, empower, guide, and comfort us. The believer who is in Christ, who seeks first His kingdom and His righteousness, who walks in the light as He is in the light—this individual has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NIV). That child of God is willing to give up everything he has to save his life, because he knows that “whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25 NIV). He also knows that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NIV). 

But beware, believer. If you’re not growing in Christ, not in fellowship with Him, not being transformed by the renewing of your mind, nor surrounded by mature believers, you’re vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. So, be vigilant, guard your heart, and set your heart on things above. 

DIG: Why does Satan believe he can prove God wrong and cause Job to curse Him? What makes him so sure? 

DISCOVER: How have you seen people respond to Job-like trials? Cursing God? Leaning into Him and being faithful? Perhaps you’ve seen both. What was unique to each of them? What do you think led one to curse and one to praise?

DO: Commit to diligence in your relationship with Christ today. If you don’t already do so, set apart various times throughout each day that are blocked out for fellowship, prayer, reflection, and devotion with the Lord. Make your relationship with Jesus the greatest priority in your life so you can praise as Job did (Job 1:20–22) when the rain comes and the trials hit.