There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil. [ I Looked it up and it means abstain or keep from] eschewed, that is. And he had Seven sons and three daughters, seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, that means pair for all you city folk, and five hundred she asses, and a few, not mentioned, overworked, jackasses. And a very great household, so that this man, was the greatest of all the men of the east. [This guy could buy out Wal-Mart]

   Each one of his sons had a great house and servants. And they were big eaters, each day was feast day. Each one would have a feast and invite their sisters over, and it was eat drink and be merry. Job was kept busy offering up sacrifices every day just in case his children got out of line.

  Now there came a day when God called a meeting and all the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them. And God, not wanting to miss a chance to goad Satan, said; from whence comest thou? And Satan said; from going to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it. [They talked like that back then] And what was Satan doing among the sons of God? And didn’t he have anything to do but walk around? Anyway; God said have you considered my servant Job? A perfect and upright man that fears God and eschews evil that there is none like him in the earth.[ Now right here you wonder, where are the Jews? Did God have to go all the way to China to find a perfect and upright man?] Anyway Satan said does Job fear God for nothing, you have built a hedge about him, and every thing he touches turns to gold. But if you put forth your hand now and touch him he will curse you to your face. Well, God now has been challenged, this means war, and guess whose on the front lines? Yep; Job. God said; all that he has is in your hand but you cannot harm him. Satan went out rubbing his hands together. The next day three servants came running up and one after the other they told Job that he basically had lost every thing that he had including all his sons and daughters. Job rent his garments and fell on his knees and said; The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

 Now it does not say how long it was since the last meeting, but God calls another meeting and Satan shows up again, this time God prods Satan saying; have you considered my servant Job and Satan says skin for skin all that a man has he will give for his life. Now it doesn’t say what kind of shape Job was in at this time, but it couldn’t have been too good. However God said; he is in your hand but spare his life. Along about this time I’m thinking; if God treats his servants like this, what does he do to his enemies? So Satan went out and smote Job with sore boils from his crown to the soles of his feet. Job is sitting in a pile of his scabs that he is scraping off with a potsherd. Job is now saying; I don’t know what I did, but I wish I hadn’t done it.

 Job’s three friends upon hearing about Job came to sympathize with him, but when they got in sight of him, they didn’t know him; he was in such pitiful shape. Well, now to make a long story, short, they proceeded to tell Job that he did not deserve such treatment from God and God told them that he had created them and he could pretty much do as he pleased with them. About this time I am waiting to hear what God did to Satan for this travesty, but no such luck. So I guess God can do anything he wants too. So to all you God fearing people out there that are doing well --------there just might be another meeting.

                                                  Alfie