Why would god do such a thing?

Question

In the story of Job, God made a deal with Satan that if God gave Satan permission to kill and destroy everything around him that Job will still worship God and wouldn't curse his name.

Well my question is why would God give Satan permission, or even give into Satan. Why would God need to prove his point to Satan in the first place, God is all knowing right. He 'ALLOWED" Satan to take everything including his family and to make Job sick just to prove his point when God already knew what the outcome would be. This is sick, and it is another story in the old book that wasn't well thought of before it was made up. Satan pretty much tricked God to give into betting on Jobs faith and for what, to prove a point. I do not understand why God the creator of all things should have to explain himself to Satan in the first place.

Yes god did give Satan boudries but what this sounds like is a BET... that is what it is technically. And God did NOT give him everything back, what happened to his family, the innocent people killed over a bet between Satan and God. Like I asked you guys, why would God even need to explain himself to Satan in the first place if he is all knowing?

Answer 1

This may be the oldest book in the Bible, since in all its discussions of right and wrong no reference is made to the law. In dramatic dialogues the greatly suffering yet righteous Job contends with his "friends" about the reason for his affliction, only to be taught at last by the Lord to accept His sovereign will for him.

The great Reformer, Martin Luther, who was himself a gifted writer and translator, said that Job was "more magnificent and sublime than any other book of Scripture."

Alfred Lord Tennyson, who as poet laureate of England could be expected to recognize great poetry, called Job "the greatest poem whether of ancient or modern literature."

The subject of the book of Job is the mystery of human suffering and the problem of pain. Why do all people suffer some, and especially why do the righteous suffer?

In Job we see a man who was probably exposed to more catastrophes in one day than any other person who has ever lived, with the exception of Christ. God allowed these sufferings to come into Job's life in order to enlarge his capacity for communion with God.

God allowed Satan to afflict Job

1. for His own glory,
2. the honor of Job,
3. the explanation of Providence, and
4. the encouragement of God's afflicted people in all ages.

Also it was allowed by God to make a case which, being adjudged, might be a useful precedent. God allowed Job to be tried, as he allowed Peter to be sifted, but took care that his faith should not fail (Luk_22:32) and then the trial of it was found to be unto praise, and honour, and glory, 1Pe_1:7.

It is comforting to note that God has the devil in a chain, in a great chain, Rev_20:1. Lucifer could not afflict Job without permission from God first asked and obtained, and then no further than he had permission: “Only upon himself put not forth thy hand; meddle not with his body, but only with his estate.”

It is a limited power that the devil has; Lucifer has no power to afflict a person but what a person gives him themselves, nor power to afflict mankind but what is given him from above.

Answer 2

Satan challenged God before all the angels just as he did in the garden of Eden, God needed to show all the angels that Satan is wrong, don't forget that angels have freewill too. Some angels had already sided with Satan before this point. God, by allowing Satan's test of Job's integrity failed to show that he could turn all of God's servants away from God even under severe test, we today are under the same test, the only difference is we know it's coming from Satan and his wicked system of things whereas Job did not. Proverbs 27:11 says Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice, that I may make a reply to him that is taunting me. Jehovah is asking us to keep our integrity and be faithful to him so he can make the reply to Satan; see you can not turn all of my servants. If you further read on in the account of Job you will find that God rewarded Job for his faithfulness in God. He replaced all of what he lost with an increase and Job had 10 more children, 7 sons and 3 daughters who were the most beautiful in all the land. Job also exercised faith in the resurrection, which is brought out in the book of Job, so he knows that he will have all his children who died back in God's new system of things after the resurrection. So Job will have 20 children at that time.

Answer 3

This is where literalism takes you. Everyone feels a need to defend God against all this cynical cruelty. It's a STORY, told to challenge that old Deuteronomic contention that the good are always rewarded and the evil always punished. The author of Job was saying sometimes good people seem to suffer for no reason. Job is an everyman, an archetype of innocence. The bad guys are his three or four friends who keep telling him he messed up. The author doesn't have an answer himself except to say we can't really understand God's purposes. He was just making the point that the conventional "wisdom" was wrong..

Answer 4

First off, God didn't make a deal with Satan. God had nothing He needed to prove to Satan, but in His testing of Job, He knew what He was doing. If you will recall the end of the story, you will know that God gives everything back to Job. God took all of his earthly loves away in order to secure and grow Job's love and trust in Him. Of course it is difficult to understand, for we who are sinful do not understand the mind of God. But He is perfect in all He does, and if we ever hope to get through life on this earth and live with Him in Heaven, we must trust on Him.

Answer 5

God doesnt let one person have a trouble free life, in fact the fire of trials and tribulation are what mold us and teach us and make our character shine. A Christian is happy with the refinement of the fire which turns our lifes into refined gold. We are prepared to do good works for the Lord. Satan can not do anything he wants and is not Gods equal. Many people turn to Job...and for centuries, Jobs life has calmed, encouraged and strengthened the lives of others. We are dust and God loves us. Jobs life was short compared to eternity and the dot of time compared to eternity is small.... this life is a short beginning of time. So Praise God in even the trials because through these hard times, your light will shine brighter...bitterness, resentment, revenge, hate should not be the result....this is the case for people without God. Take your scars and help others with theirs in this fallen world.

Answer 6

I agree with CJ. Don't mock God JUST because you do not understand. Had nothing to do with giving in to satan. God gave us a great example of how we can overcome the evil one (satan) and remain true to The Lord. It's for us, the readers of the Word, to encourage us, that we can have the strength of Job in this satanic deceptive world. And shows how merciful God was/is to Job/us after the trial ended. Also, it shows us how even today, satan goes to God to accuse us of our sins, but today, we have Jesus as our intercessor to God. Kinda like a lawyer defending us to the judge God who acquits us since Jesus took on our punishment for our crimes. It's a great literal story that has much to say to you and I. You could join a bible study to gain a better understanding of the Word, but you need to start with an open heart for Jesus. Keep asking ques, but discern ans with truth - The Bible.

Answer 7

First of all, this piece of scripture was not "made up", I just want to be clear about that. Secondly, you apparently did not read the entire Book of Job and grasp it's meaning.

In the first chapter of the Book of Job, the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, a righteous man." Satan spoke against Job saying, "Touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." So God allowed Satan to test Job. And Satan was wrong, of course, Job did not curse God. Then Satan said, "Touch his flesh, and he will curse you to your face." And God allowed the test, but set a boundary stating, "You cannot take his life."

It was not a bet. It was not a point to be made. It was God showing the faithfulness of a righteous man. And that which was taken was restored 10 fold by God, which demonstrates the goodness and mercy of God. God did not have to "explain Himself" to Satan about anything. It was Satan who approached God, and God allowed the test, but set strict boundaries on Satan. In the end, Job was still a righteous man, devoted even moreso, to God.

It's one of the finest examples of faith in the Bible. You have obviously taken it out of context and came to this conclusion either by mistake, or to maliciously disprove the Bible and mock God.

Answer 8

There are things called trials, and Job was going through one. And no, God didn't give Job what he had before, he gave him at least double the amount. I know it seems harsh, but I think God wanted to test Job, and then when Job did a good job on it, he was rewarded.

Answer 9

Read Job 42:5. Then you will understand why God let Job to get through all those suffering!
To elevate Job's understanding about God.

Answer 10

This might be a metaphor. I mean, God allowed Job to go through difficult times to test his faith, because, after all, even knowing that he had a strong faith, Job could always have the free will to change his mind. This is not very different to what happens to us every day. I mean, we go through things in life that are meant to be a test, even small things. God tests our patience, our tolerance, our love for each other, our trust in Him, our forgiveness, because we have free will and we mess up ourselves very easy. Besides, it would be very easy to love a God that is good to us all the time, what's the point? If we are not good enough to those around us, why would He be good to us? And also, whatever we do to anyone around us, we have consequences, just like children go to time-outs to learn how to behave, we have difficult times in life, to learn how to behave spiritually. If you dont have the consequence in this life, you will in the next one.

My religion is Spiritism.
Peace!