And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” (Job 1:12a)
However, the question may be asked: if there are limits, how was it that Satan was able to kill all of Job’s children?
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (Job 1:18-19)
Let me start by saying I’m not all-seeing, all-knowing, and my actions are not always motivated by love – so I’m completely unqualified to answer this question! However, I can conjecture…
Who’s to say that letting Job’s children all die wasn’t an act of mercy? Job was obviously older, and also obviously much stronger and more mature in his faith than his children were. How do I know? God singled Job out from all the other people living on the earth!
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8)
So clearly, the boundary for Job was different than the boundary set for his children. God knew that Job could withstand pretty much anything with unwavering faith. Job lost all his animals, all his servants, and all of his children – how many people do you know who could go through that and then say these famous lines?
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21b)
Then God moves the boundary even further – He allows Satan to inflict Job directly, but just short of death:
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7)
How might one of Job’s children reacted, had they been spared? Being less strong in the faith, perhaps they would have cursed or turned away from God, after seeing all the horrible things their father went through. In this case, would it be more merciful to spare their life but allow them to lose their faith, or to allow their earthly life to be taken, but allow them to inherit eternity with the Father?
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
We know God is Love – so we trust that God is loving - even when we don’t understand the things He may sometimes allow to happen.
#LoveMatters