A Perfect Example

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” —Job 1:8, NIV

Everyone remembers the story of Job and the expression the patience of Job. I have read the book of Job many times, but I gained a new perspective just recently.

The third quarter Sabbath School quarterly for 2022 focused on the theme “In the Crucible With Christ,” and Job’s experience was an obvious example that was included. As I reread chapters 1 and 2 of Job, something new jumped out at me. It was God who mentioned Job in His conversation with Satan, and He was boasting about Job! I wondered whether God would ever have reason to boast about me. That sobering thought led me to examine Job’s life more intensely. I wanted to see the attributes that God admired.

First, God admired Job’s lifestyle, which prompted Him to claim there was “no one like him on earth” ( Job 1:8, NIV). Job was one of a kind. He did not follow the trends of his era, and he was content to pursue a close relationship with God, even though that made him very different from others. In God’s sight, Job was unique; he stood out.

God admired Job’s blameless life and his upright standing in the community. What a distinction to be considered blameless before God! Job met all of God’s criteria while upholding God’s principles and requirements, and he demonstrated his fear of God through his love and obedience. Job deliberately turned away from evil because he understood that evil was diametrically opposed to God and would negatively affect their relationship.

Satan countered by claiming Job’s perfect life was a facade—an act in response to God’s blessing. But even after Job lost everything, God observed, “And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause” ( Job 2:3, NKJV). I want to be like Job: unique, blameless, and upright, a daughter of God who loves Him and turns away from evil. I want my God to boast about me. Sisters, wouldn’t you like our heavenly Father to boast about you? Let us strive to know God as Job did, to follow Him and walk in obedience. May we be unique, blameless, and upright women who fear God and turn away from evil.

Valerie Knowles Combie