The departure of Job the Righteous
On this day the righteous Job departed. He was a righteous man in his generation and upright in his time, as the bible testified about him: '... there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?' (Job 1:8) The devil envied him and asked God to allow him to harm Job and to destroy his wealth. God allowed that, because of His foreknowledge of the patience and perseverance of Job and that he would be an example and a model for those who come after him as the bible said: 'You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord' (James 5:11). In one day, Job lost his sons and daughters, his cattle, and all his wealth. In addition, the evil one also struck his body with Leprosy from his head to his feet. In all this Job offered thanksgiving and praise to God, and never murmured or grumbled against his Creator. All that he said was: 'May the day perish on which I was born' (Job 3:3). He said also about the loss of his children: 'The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.' (Job1:21 ) 'In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with a wrong' (Job 1:22 ). The thing that hurt Job the most, was the harsh words of his wife and his friends. His wife advised him to blaspheme, but Job refused and rebuked her saying: 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips' (Job 2:10 ). Job remained sick for 30 years until he was purified as gold is purified with fire. At last, the Lord spoke to him from the clouds and healed him from his sickness and doubled the wealth he had and gave him other sons and daughters. He lived to a good old age and departed in peace.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
