Did God allow an evil spirit to harm the good man Job?

Answer 1

We don't know. That's the point of the story. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. G-d has his reasons and we aren't always privy to G-d's reasoning. Ultimately G-d does reward the righteous and punishes man for his sins, however, it may not be in this world, but rather in the world-to-come.

actually we do know. the reason that God let Job suffer is that suffering brings us closer to God. also the devil presented himself to the lord trying to make God give him permission to let Job suffer. and God gave in. why? because God knew that Job would never curse him.

Answer 2

No. The book of Job is a fictitious book in The Bible. The proof is as follows: Job is said to be a man "who worshipped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil." Job 1:1. Yet God is said to allow an evil spirit to steal Job's livestock, kill his servants and Job's ten children: Job 1:8-20. But the story of Job contradicts God's willingness to protect those who are obedient to him: "He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you. You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight." (Psalms 91:3-6). God does not send evil spirits upon those who obey him. God sent an evil spirit upon King Saul because of his disobedience: "Samuel said, "Which does the Lord prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the Lord's command, he has rejected you as King." (1 Samuel 15:10-23). Saul proved not to be 'a good man, careful not to do anything evil' so God took away his spirit from him: "The Lord's spirit left Saul, and an evil spirit sent by the Lord tormented him. His servants said to him, "We know that an evil spirit sent by God is tormenting you. (1 Samuel 16:14-15). To believe the book of Job is to believe that God allowed a good man to suffer injustice, oppression and crime, but in the book of Isaiah, God says: "I love justice and I hate oppression and crime." (Isaiah 61:8). The book of Job is clearly a fictitious book in the bible, which paints a horrid picture of a wonderful, magnificent God. (Scriptures taken from the Sunrise Good News Bible).

Answer 3

In the first test, Satan can perform any evil he wishes on the family and property of Job, as long as he does no harm to Job. In the second test, Satan can even harm Job himself, as long as he spares his life. Satan gave Job boils all over his body.

Answer 4

A:In the Book of Job, God not only allowed Satan to harm Job, but encouraged him to do so, not as a punishment but as a challenge (Job 1:12).

This story represents a time in Jewish theology when Satan had become the loyal assistant of God, tasked with testing the righteousness of the faithful, unlike the chief adversary of God that he represents in modern Christian theology.

Answer 5

In Job chapter 1 verse 6 - 12 God spoke to Satan concerning the uprightness of His servant Job. Satan implied that the only reason Job feared God was that God had protected and blessed Job. Satan was saying if things started to go wrong in Job's life then Job would not continue to have faith in God.

So Satan is allowed to test Job by destroying Job's children, servants, livestock, herdsmen, home and by inflicting Job himself. But throughout all these calamities Job continues to trust God.

God let these things happen to Job because God knew that Job would not deny Him and Satan would be shown to be wrong.

Answer 6

A simple concept that is absolutely basic to understanding mankind is free will. God gives all of his sentient creatures (i.e. angels and men) free will as He wants them to love Him, and there is no way that there can be love without free will.

Unfortunately having free will means that we have the chance to screw it up. In addition, the fact that we have inherited original sin means that we are certainly going to screw it up.

Satan, just like us, has free will, and has screwed it up completely. The story is showing a number of things: one is that Satan is always allowed to tempt us, and is most certainly going to tempt us constantly throughout our lives. This is a given, and the very basis for the story. But like all the stories in the Old Testament, they are there to teach us a lesson, and this is that we will be tempted, but like Job, with the love of God, we can resist and not sin. It is possible - with God's help, and so as long as we trust in God (which means actually doing it, not just saying it) God will always provide us the help to not sin through the worst temptation.

Answer 7

If for no other reason than as a lesson for us to learn from -- because, of course, God knew that the account would be written down and put in the Bible for everyone to read. The story shows that even the most righteous person can go through suffering. (Look at Christ: he never sinned, but he lived in a world of sin. He suffered and died for the sins of man.) It shows that everyone can have fear and anguish when they go through suffering (even Jesus - before and during the crucifixion). But, most importantly, it shows that through God's power, if we are persistent in our faith, we can overcome and be victorious, and can be better than before -- if not in this life, in the afterlife. Again, Jesus overcame Satan's power through his resurrection, and because he did, we can live again as well. Job said (in 19:25), "I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth."

And James said:
"You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5:11)

Answer 8

As in other cases, God wanted to provide us with a role-model. "Hillel makes the poor people accountable," since he learned Torah despite grinding poverty (Talmud, Yoma 35b). So too, Job served God despite exceptionally hard suffering, thereby teaching us that those of us who suffer can do so too.

More about Job

Iyov (Job) was a very righteous man, apparently a descendant of Terah, whom God tested through pain and loss (Job ch.1). His travails lasted for one year (Mishna, Eiduyot ch.2). During his sufferings, he spoke with his three friends concerning God's judgment and wisdom. He, more than his friends, spoke with full trust in God; and at the end of the year, God comforted him and once again gave him health and prosperity (Job ch.42). The Book of Job is in the form of a four-way debate, in which God himself then steps in as the final arbiter.
The Book of Job is the only book in the Hebrew Bible concerning which the Talmud debates as to when it took place. One sage states that this book, like the Song of Songs, is allegorical (Talmud, Bava Bathra 15a), written for the purpose of teaching us, and is not referring to a specific person. The majority opinion is that such a man did actually live.

Answer 9

As in other cases, God wanted to provide us with a role-model. "Hillel makes the poor people accountable," since he learned Torah despite grinding poverty (Talmud, Yoma 35b). So too, Job served God despite exceptionally hard suffering, thereby teaching us that those of us who suffer can do so too.

More about Job

Iyov (Job) was a very righteous man, apparently a descendant of Terah, whom God tested through pain and loss (Job ch.1). His travails lasted for one year (Mishna, Eiduyot ch.2). During his sufferings, he spoke with his three friends concerning God's judgment and wisdom. He, more than his friends, spoke with full trust in God; and at the end of the year, God comforted him and once again gave him health and prosperity (Job ch.42). The Book of Job is in the form of a four-way debate, in which God himself then steps in as the final arbiter.
The Book of Job is the only book in the Hebrew Bible concerning which the Talmud debates as to when it took place. One sage states that this book, like the Song of Songs, is allegorical (Talmud, Bava Bathra 15a), written for the purpose of teaching us, and is not referring to a specific person. The majority opinion is that such a man did actually live.

Answer 10

In the story of Job, God spoke to Satan and said that Job was the most upright of men, but Satan challenged this, saying that if God caused Job any pain then Job would curse him. God accepted the challenge and said, "Behold, all that he hath is in thy power. (Job 1:12)" So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and caused Job great misery.

When nothing that Satan could do to Job would cause him to curse God, then God authorised him to do all in his power short of killing Job. Still, Job was righteous, although he had lost everything and suffered terribly. In the final chapter of the book, God recompenses Job for all that he had done to him, and Job lived 140 years.