Naked I Came – Job 1:6-22

When I got into high school in my new home in St. Louis, MO, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself, I was shy. So when on the first day of classes they called roll, “William Johnson!”, I just said, “Here!” and didn’t try to explain that I went by my middle name, Randall. By the end of the day, being addressed by a name I was never called by, I was distraught. I decided I had to go back to each teacher and explain what I wanted to be called. I had to draw even more attention to myself. Sheesh! One of my teachers, nevertheless, called me Will the rest of the year.

Job is getting some unwanted attention, and the one drawing that attention to him is God.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And 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, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:6–22, ESV)

It is suggested that the “sons of God” (angels) coming to present themselves before Yahweh is using the picture of the king’s court being called.  Are the angelic beings coming at Yahweh’s invitation to a special meeting or is it a regularly scheduled appearance to give an account of themselves?  Has Satan been invited or does he simply come?  And if so, would that not be something Yahweh would prevent or be resistant to?  If Yahweh invited him was it for the specific purpose of putting him on to Job?

It might seem that Yahweh’s question, “From where have you come” might indicate that He did not invite Satan to this council.  But that is not necessarily the case.  It may just be part of His fact-finding query of all His subjects, though of course He already knows where they have been and what they have been doing, but in like manner with Adam (Genesis 3) He asks so that they may report and open themselves to Him.

Satan’s response makes him seem like a wanderer without a plan, but in fact we may suppose that he does have a plan and he has paid particular attention to Job, and no doubt others.  His plan is sinister, as we see in the verses that follow.  He is looking for ways to counter the influence of God in the lives of His people.  He is looking for ammunition against the One who made him.

Yahweh considers, out loud to Satan, Job, His servant, and gives him high praise (the same description given in verse 1).  By pointing Job out to Satan it feels as if God is giving Job attention that he would not want directed at him by God’s adversary.  Yahweh, however, is in fact setting up Satan for a defeat and setting up Job for an education.  What Job will learn has become of great benefit and education to many generations since.

Satan’s question brings both God’s and Job’s character into question.  If Job serves God only because of the benefits he gets from God, then he is using God.  If God is willing to accept such purchased worship, then He is prostituting Himself, paying for worship and love.  Satan’s arrogance and rebelliousness is clearly evident in this exchange. Does Satan really believe that Job will curse God if God removes His hand of blessing?  Perhaps, though he may not be surprised if Job stays faithful.  He has undoubtedly seen others who would not stop worshiping God even though they faced adversity.  But his desire is to discredit God and destroy God’s people, so if Job does curse he has won and if Job doesn’t but is ruined, he has won.

Though Satan suggested God stretch out His hand and strike Job, God tells Satan to stretch out his hand, limiting him to how much damage he can do.  He prohibits Satan from directly hurting Job. Tearing his robe was instantaneous, but shaving his head took Job some time.  Did he not first run to his son’s house to see his children’s bodies?  Probably.  But then the grieving time began and at some point Job fell abject on the ground and worshiped Yahweh. Job’s statement suggests that he understood that all he possessed was a gift from Yahweh, meant to be stewarded by Job, not ultimately owned.  He had faithfully done that and Yahweh had chosen to take it all back.  Yahweh’s name was still to be blessed.   Yahweh had done nothing unfair or improper.  All Job had was God’s to dispense with.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. What is your greatest fear?
2. If what happened to Job happened to you, what do you think would be some of your responses?
3. Do you think you could have Job’s response to this overwhelming tragedy? Why or why not?
4. Do you have any struggle with the scene we are shown here in heaven and God’s interaction with Satan?
5. What would it take for you to be able to respond the way Job did to God?
6. Would you be willing to have a discussion with God this week about what you have learned in this passage?