' The Patience of Job '
Job i. v. 1-22
The Book of Job is the story of a man who experienced every trial and misfortune that flesh is heir to, and yet remained true to his God. Indeed, the phrase 'The Patience of Job' has become proverbial.
Job was a man of vast wealth, so that 'this man,' we read, 'was the greatest of all the men of the east.' He was also 'perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.'
But so far his faith had not been tried. God therefore allowed Satan to bring disaster after disaster upon him. This afternoon's reading tells of the capture of his oxen and his asses by Sabeans; the destruction of his flocks and servants by fire; the capture of his camels by the Chaldeans, and finally the extermination of his sons and daughters at one fell swoop by a great wind which blew from the wilderness, and destroyed the house in which they were all assembled.
'In all this,' however, we are told 'Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.'