Job 1-5

I never knew Job is right after Noah. Great legends alike, "he was the greatest man among all the people of the East...blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:3-8). Job's precautionary prayer for his children really shows his far-seeing vision as a father. Even with 7 sons and 3 daughters, they have such tight family bonding.

Good times were short-lived, as Satan had a series of wicked torment for my man Job. First gone were his possessions (oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels) and all his children. Instead of getting angry or blaming anyone or anything, Job torn his clothes (surprise! surprise!). Wasn't trying to self destruct. He gave God true ownership of everything he "had": "Naked I came from my mothers' womb, and naked i will depart...the name of the Lord be praised".

Satan had more in store for him, giving Job painful sores on his whole body. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came by to stay with their friend through this dreadful time. They were definitely true friends. These grown men cried when they saw their friend's unrecognizable countenance, sitting with him 7 days and nights without a word.

In ch.3, Job did some serious cursing, not on others, but himself for his mischiefs: "may it [the day of his birth] not be included among the days of the year nor be enter in any of the months". Yeah, that means something very different than a holiday. It's great that he didn't offend God in his words but why did he put the blame on himself? What did he see as being the problem?

People usually think and act abnormally during disastrous time, but I also believe that his thoughts and words being recorded on the bible means God wants to show us some insights. But i am not sure i understand them yet.

In ch.4 and 5, his friend Eliphaz spitted out a long trunk of random things (that means i didn't understand). Basically, God is just and He can save people from any calamities. I don't even know if he knows what he is talking about. Was it supposed to be soothe? or trying to divert Job's attention by confusing the heck out of him? I like how he ended his long babbling with: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself". Nice, why didn't he just spank Job with a stick. That's the same effect he was going for.

Btw, I feel that their "conversations" were very formal as if there was a minimal sentence count (i.e. you have to speak more than 10 sentences with opening, evidence, and conclusion). I wonder if I or anyone ever sound like that, and is that a good thing or not?