(2:3-6) God is in Control - Can Satan persuade God to change his plans? At first God said he did not want Job harmed physically, but then he decided to allow it. However, Satan is unable to persuade God to go against his character: God is completely and eternally good. God was willing to go along with Satan's plan because God knew the eventual outcome of Job's story. God cannot be fooled by Satan. Job's suffering was a test for Job, Satan, and us--not God.

(2:4-5) A Personal Attack - "Skin for skin" was Satan's comment concerning Job's response to the loss of his children. Satan still held to his opinion that Job was faithful only because of God's blessings. Satan believed that Job was willing to accept the loss of family and property as long as his own skin was safe. Satan's next step was to inflict physical suffering upon Job to prove his original accusation (1:9-11).

(2:6) Satan Asks - Again Satan had to ask permission from God to inflict pain upon Job. God limits Satan, and in this case, he did not allow Satan to destroy Job.

(2:7) Satan's Targets -  At times believers may actually suffer more than unbelievers because those who follow God may become Satan's special targets. God's people, therefore, may have to endure hardship, persecution, or testing. This was the case with Job. We must be prepared for Satan's attacks. When we suffer, we must not conclude that God has abandoned us. He did not abandon Job. Consistent faith is the way to defeat Satan.

(2:9-10) Job's Wife Survives - Why was Job's wife spared when the rest of the family was killed? The Bible does not say, so we can only speculate. God may have graciously kept her alive, knowing that he would eventually restore children to the couple (42:12-15). Or he may have allowed her to be part of the test for Job by her offering a tempting way out of his suffering. Or it is possible that Satan wanted her spared because her very presence caused Job another kind of suffering through her nagging and bitterness over all they had lost. In any case, in this moment, Job's wife was not considering God's highest interest by her advice. Spouses should try to give wise counsel to their partners.

Think twice about how you speak in extreme cases of stress like Job's.

(2:10) True Faith on Display - Many people think that believing in God protects them from trouble, so when calamity comes, they question God's goodness and justice. But the message of Job emphasizes that we should not give up on God because of the difficulties and trials we face in life. Faith in God does not guarantee personal prosperity, health, or comfort, and lack of faith does not guarantee suffering and troubles in this life. If this were so, people would believe in God simply to get rich or to have a comfortable life. God is capable of rescuing us from suffering, but he may also allow suffering to come for reasons we cannot understand, at least in the moment. It is exactly in that moment of suffering and adversity that Satan tries to convince us to doubt God and then become bitter when relief doesn't come. Here Job shows a perspective broader than seeking his own personal comfort. If we always knew why

we were suttering, our faith would have no room to grow.

(2:11-13) Job's Friends Come to Comfort - Upon learning of Job's difficulties, three of his friends came to sympathize with him and comfort him. Later we learn that their words of comfort were not helpful-but at least they came. While God rebuked them for what they said (427), he did not rebuke them for what they did--making the effort to come to someone who was in real pain. Unfortunately, when they came, they did a poor job of comforting Job because they were so certain of their own advice and insensitive to Job's needs. When someone is in need, go to that person, but be sensitive about how you otter them comtort. 

(2:11) A Narrow Vision - Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were not only Job's friends--they were also known for their wisdom. In the end, however, their wisdom was shown to be narrow-minded and incomplete. 

(2:13) Job's Friends Sit - Why did the friends arrive and then just sit quietly? According to Jewish tradition, people who come to comfort someone in mourning should not speak until the mourner speaks. Often the best response to another person's suffering is to sit quietly with them. Job's friends realized that his pain was too deep to be healed with mere words, so they said nothing. (If only they had stayed silent!) Often, we feel we must say something spiritual and insightful to a hurting friend. But perhaps what the person needs most is just our presence, showing that we care. Pat answers and trite quotations say much less than empathetic silence and loving companionship.

Dave Burnette's Life Application