In the ever famous story of Job, what is the difference between what God allowed Satan to test Job at that time and how he allows Satan to test us now. If I remember correctly God claimed he would never allow us to be tested again. Isn't our entire life supposed to be a test of free will? Please explain. ;-)
2007-10-14 17:27:32 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
At the end of the book of Job, there are also phrases that state when we enter into hard times let no man say he is being tested by God, because God does not test.
2007-10-14 17:36:17 · update #1
JWs out there, can you explain this please.
2007-10-14 17:38:06 · update #2
God was not testing Job Satan was, and at the end of Job he said he would never allow it again, but isn't that exactly what he is allowing Satan to do to us now?
2007-10-14 17:40:17 · update #3
Anyone can find strength when it is not a choice, and yes some of us are tested beyond endurance, that is why people commit suicide.
2007-10-14 17:42:14 · update #4
If god is omniscient then no test is necessary because he already knows the result.
Religious people don't think these things through.
2007-10-14 17:36:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
The book of Job, the oldest book in the Bible, was meant to help us understand why there is suffering in the world. Not every trial we go through is because some sin we've done. God allowed Satan to afflict Job up to a point- but He would not let Satan take Job's life. Satan was bound by God from killing Job.
One difference between the way God allowed Satan to test Job then, and the way He allows now, is that in the Old Testament, people were not born again. The Spirit of God did not live inside of them, so I believe that God used Satan to find out exactly what was truly in their hearts. God was pretty sure about Job, because of his lifestyle, but I'm not convinced that God really knew for certain! By testing Job, He could test the strength of Job's faith, while proving to Satan that Job was faithful to the core.
Today, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, so God knows what's in our hearts. The scripture doesn't say that we would 'never be tested again'- it says God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. In other words, He will not allow Satan to test us to the point of failure or death. He knows our limits, and by allowing us to be tested, we learn our own limits, we learn patience, we learn to trust God, and our faith is strengthened as a result.
2007-10-14 17:54:25 · answer #2 · answered by Dawn C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right, GOD does not "test." However he allows us to be tested or tempted. Just as in Job, GOD did not CAUSE Job to suffer, he ALLOWED the suffering.
As Truth mentions above, GOD will not allow us to be tempted/tested beyond our capacity-he will always provide a way out.
Jesus even tells us that we will face trials or tribulations. Specifically that Christians will suffer because of their faith.
However, at no time is GOD the one that does the testing.
2007-10-14 17:45:32 · answer #3 · answered by Tuff 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe God allows Satan to test us to see how we do. If we past the test, we are rewarded. God gives us the Holy Spirit to lead and to teach us to overcome temptations and trials. I notice that before my biggest blessings, I face my biggest trials. May the Lord empower you to pass all of your tests with flying colors.
2007-10-14 17:41:29 · answer #4 · answered by Apostle Jeff 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never interpreted the Book of Job as a parable of God's willingness to "test" us...I've always taken it as a story to illustrate one of the most troubling questions any faith faces: The presence of evil and misfortune even in the lives of the righteous.
2007-10-14 17:35:20 · answer #5 · answered by Tut Uncommon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God knew that Job was going to be strong enough. He blessed Job for the test well passed.
You have your whole time to figure God's plan for you.
2007-10-14 17:42:04 · answer #6 · answered by Nina, BaC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where does God say we would never be tested again?
Our whole life is a test.
2007-10-14 17:32:37 · answer #7 · answered by allforone 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
God is always testing us
2007-10-15 08:55:00 · answer #8 · answered by tigerbarb7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hardley,God is in control not man. The evil done to Job was for his good. God saves ALL,and the firstfruits go through there there judgments here,for there good because they will accept it. Free will is b.s. The creature was made subject to vanity,he or she cannot help it. But as God has counted ALL as dead in Adam,He will count all as alive in Christ.
2007-10-14 17:40:28 · answer #9 · answered by prophet of restitution 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He would never allow us to be tested beyond our strength
2007-10-14 17:35:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm quite sure God didn't say he would never test us. Testing is the only way we can see our faults and overcome them to grow closer to him.
2007-10-14 17:35:07 · answer #11 · answered by jerrri 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋