Holy Righteous Job the Much-suffering (c. 2000–1800 BC)
The holy much-suffering Job (c. 2000–1800 BC) lived in northern Arabia, in the land of Uz. His life is described in the Bible (the Book of Job). It is supposed that Job was a son of Nahor, the son of Abraham. God-fearing and pious, Job entrusted himself with all his soul to the will of the Lord. God blessed his piety and granted him countless riches: he had a great many cattle and was filled with every good thing. His seven sons and three daughters lived in love for one another. They gathered in turn at one another’s houses for a common meal, and every seventh day the righteous Job offered sacrifice to the Lord for his children: “It may be that one of them has sinned, it may be that one has let blasphemy pass through his heart.” For his justice and honesty Saint Job enjoyed universal respect among his fellow citizens.
Once, when the holy angels came before the throne of the Lord, Satan too appeared among them. God asked Satan whether he had seen His servant Job, righteous and blameless. Satan answered arrogantly that the Lord protected him and increased his wealth, but that if misfortune befell him, Job would curse the Lord. God wished to test Job’s patience and said to Satan: “All that Job has I will give into thy hand; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.” After this a series of sudden misfortunes fell upon Job: one messenger brought news that his oxen had been carried off, another told of the burning of his flock of sheep and the servant lads by fire fallen from heaven, a third announced the slaughter of his camels. But most crushing of all was what he learned last: while Job’s sons and daughters were feasting in their eldest brother’s house, a mighty wind from the desert brought the roof down on the young people and killed them all. Stricken with grief, Job tore his mantle and shaved his head as a sign of mourning, but did not let slip a single word to curse the Lord; on the contrary, he fell to the ground, bowed down before the Creator and said: “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return to my mother the earth. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth and for evermore.”
The angels of the Lord again stood before God. Satan said that Job was righteous as long as he himself was unharmed: “If misfortune touches him himself, he will curse Thee to Thy face.” The Lord told him: “I give thee leave to do as thou wilt, only spare his life.” Satan struck Job with a terrible disease, leprosy. The sufferer had to withdraw from people. Friends and acquaintances forsook the once glorious and renowned man. And his wife said to him reproachfully: “Where is thy faith and thy good works, why does God not save thee? Better curse Him; perhaps then He will at least make an end of thee.” The righteous Job remained faithful to the Lord even in his trial, and did not let slip a single reproach against God.
Three of Job’s friends heard of his misfortune and visited the sick man. At the sight of the stricken man they burst into tears. For seven days and nights they gazed without a word on his sufferings and sympathised with him sincerely. At last Job opened his lips and cursed the day of his birth. His friends thought that Job was being punished by God for his sins, and advised him to repent. But the righteous man answered that he was suffering not for his sins, but that the Lord had sent him this suffering to test him.
For such patience God rewarded Job once more. He was completely healed and became richer than before. Moreover, he was again given seven sons and three daughters. After this Job lived another 140 years and died at the age of 248.
