Friends Like That

With brief introductions out of the way, Job 1:6-12 offers the first conversation in the book when the angels come to present themselves to God.  Verse 6 mentions that Satan came with them.  The fact that Satan is called out in the text makes me wonder about his place in the group.  Was it the normal custom for him to join them?  Was he considered one of them?  The Message adds the detail that Satan was “the Designated Accuser,” but the NRSV doesn’t give Satan a title of any sort. 

Regardless, Satan was there that day, and God initiates a conversation with Satan:  “Where have you come from?”  (NRSV) or “What have you been up to?” (The Message).  God seems interested in Satan’s whereabouts and/or activities.  Did God ask this of the angels, too?  Were their replies more boring?  Is it more interesting to talk to the person who is likely to stir things up? Does a propensity for asking probing questions or accusing as designated make for better conversation?  This kind of informal greeting almost makes it sound like God is bored.

And maybe God is kind of bored, because after Satan’s lackluster reply (“I’ve just been going around on Earth, checking things out there”), God seems to stir the pot a bit.  God mentions Job and his blameless, upright life, holding Job up as an example of someone who fears God and hates evil.  Actually, God asks Satan if he’s noticed Job (The Message) or considered him (NRSV).  Job was minding his own business (and that of his kids when necessary).  Satan was minding his own business.  God initiates this whole thing.

I don’t much care for that.  What kind of response would God expect from that type of question?  Was God hoping Satan would say, “Yeah, I’ve noticed him.  No big deal.  Who you really should be concerned about is Xerxes.  That guy is a train wreck.”  Did Satan call God’s bluff?  Wouldn’t you think that if God brings you up in conversation with nothing but good things to say, things would go well for you?

Not the case, my friends.

The ensuing conversation yields a weird and unkind (at best) bet:  God bets everything Job has that Job loves God no matter what.  Who’s the winner there? God?  Does God have something to prove? Something to lose?

It’s also interesting that Satan, who is such a tricky little devil, makes the assertion that if God stretches out God’s own hand against Job, Job would turn against God.  But in a deft turn of phrase, God doesn’t stretch God’s hand at all; God gives Satan license to act upon Job.  Satan is the one who stretches his hand, not God.  Satan has some pretty serious power, and God gives Satan nearly free reign over Job, with one notable exception:  Don’t hurt Job himself.

Sparing Job physical harm:  is that an act of grace?  Sometimes when the world drops out from under us, doesn’t death sometimes seem like an attractive, easy out?  The way God is acting, I have to wonder if maybe God just needs Job in one piece so the outcome of the bet can be determined clearly.  It’d be harder for Job to show how much he loves God if he’s dead, right?

At any rate, based upon whatever weird ideas I have about Satan (and that’s a whole ‘nother thing), I have a really difficult time imagining words quite as chilling as God’s directive to Satan in 1:12: “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him.”

With friends like that, you don’t need enemies.