Here in the midst of the sacred writings of Israel stands a book, which no Jew of his own notion would ever have written or could even have conceived. It authoritatively reveals the deepest interest of the true God in a man outside the fathers or the sons of the chosen race, a son of the east in the land of Uz, “perfect and upright, one that feared God and abstained from evil.” Jewish pride would like to see in Job no more than a fictitious personage. Yet if even an inspired romance were really possible, the difficulty would remain, for the case presented is as overwhelming to Jewish narrowness as it must cheer any soul on earth that knew it. The curtain is drawn (ch. 1) for the occasion from the unseen world, that the believing reader may know that God initiates the unparalleled trial about to open for the good of Job and challenges the ever active adversary. “Hast thou considered My servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth.” Satan imputes a selfish motive for Job’s piety, and all belonging to him is left for the evil one to blast. This he at once willingly executes by natural means: a lesson of great value, for nowhere else in the Old Testament is this taught so clearly. Satan fails. In the midst of family joy and his own piety, messenger follows messenger, of Sabean and Chaldean raids, of lightning and tempest, which swept from Job all his oxen, sheep, camels and children, but Job blessed God’s name as to all, and he sinned not.
W. Kelly