The Bible (Old Testament) has a story about a man called Job. Job was a righteous, good man who had seven sons and three daughters. He also had a lot of cattle. Satan was jealous of him. Satan asked God’s permission to test Job, to see if Job would lose faith and curse God. God agreed. All of Job’s animals were taken away and the house of his firstborn child collapsed, which killed all of Job’s sons and daughters. Satan thought that Job would curse God. But Job simply shaved his head and said: “Lord has given, and Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of Lord.”
Satan then asked God’s permission to hurt Job’s body and God agreed, as long as Satan did not kill Job. Job was then given leprosy – a common disease at the time. His wife suggested that he “curse God and die.” But Job said: “You speak as one of the foolish speakers. Moreover, shall we receive good from God and not receive evil?”
Job’s friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar thought that he needed comforting, and spent seven days sitting with him. However, they thought that he must have sinned and tried to persuade him so. Eventually, Job cursed the day he was born. He said: “May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, “A boy is born!” That day–may it turn to darkness, may God above not care about it; may not light shine upon it.” He went on to question why people suffering and who long for death (like himself) could not die.
After this, God decided that Job had shown that his loyalty and devotion to God. God asked Job’s friends to pray for themselves. He said: “I am angry with you... you have not spoken of me what is right.” He rewarded Job by giving him back his health, twice as many animals and seven sons and three daughters.
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