Job 1:19
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
The verse describes a sudden wind striking the house where Job's sons and daughters were gathered, killing them all while a single messenger escaped to bring the news, as one blow in a swift series that stripped Job of flocks, servants and children before he himself was afflicted with disease.
Satan sent the destroying wind through his knowledge of nature, yet he could act only as far as God permitted, for it is God who hedges His creatures and restrains the destroyer.
The death of the children was not proof of sin in Job, but affliction the Lord allowed Satan to bring upon a righteous man, though his friends falsely charged that his losses proved his guilt and thereby misrepresented God.
Despite grievous bereavement, bodily suffering and rejection by relatives and friends, Job held fast his integrity and loyalty to God, showing the power of faith to rest calmly in God in the darkest hour.
The same agency is still at work in tornadoes, tempests, floods, earthquakes, famine and ruin of cities, and these visitations will become more frequent and disastrous, yet God has not forsaken His faithful servant and will at last restore, favor and glorify him with an inheritance of far greater worth than earthly riches.
The Calamity and Its Cause
The verse describes a sudden disaster in which a great wind from the wilderness struck the house where Job's sons and daughters were gathered, smote its four corners, and caused it to fall upon the young men so that they died, with only one messenger escaping alone to report it. It was one of a rapid succession of losses that stripped Job of possessions and security, sweeping away flocks and herds, men-servants and maidens, servants, houses and children with one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. These blows took flocks, herds, servants and children before Job himself was smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Satan sent the wind, for having studied the secrets of nature and of the laboratories of nature he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. It is God who shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer, keeping that power in check. Satan's power to bring ruin through the elements, swiftly collapsing a house and destroying life and property, is therefore limited by God's permission and protecting care.
When blessings and protecting care are withdrawn Satan gains control of all whom God does not especially guard. When men rebel against God's law God withdraws His blessings and protecting care. Satan then brings disease and disaster, tempest, famine and ruin, while leading men to believe it is God who is afflicting them. The attack on Job as father was aimed at destroying his children as well, as part of Job being tested and tried.
The same agency is still at work bringing disease and disaster, accidents and calamities by sea and by land, great conflagrations, tornadoes, hailstorms, tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, earthquakes, ruined harvests, famine, pestilence and ruin of cities. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Such permitted violence against God's servants should not be treated as inexplicable surprises.
Innocent Suffering and Faithfulness
The sudden taking of Job's children shows that all suffering is not the result of a perverted life. It was part of an affliction the Lord permitted Satan to bring upon a righteous man, when Satan stripped Job of all he possessed, broke his family ties, and took his children from him, and for a time his body was covered with loathsome sores so that he suffered greatly. Their deaths were not proof that Job had brought suffering on himself by sin.
His friends charged that his afflictions proved he was guilty before God and deserving punishment. Job denied the charge and called them miserable comforters. By trying to prove him guilty they brought a grievous test upon him and placed God in a false light.
Despite grievous loss and severe bereavement, followed by bodily affliction so severe that he was abhorred by relatives and friends, Job maintained his integrity, loyalty and faithfulness to God and did not swerve. As one of God's appointed witnesses he was exposed to reproach and persecution for the truth's sake through being deprived of his worldly possessions. A faithful servant may suffer severe bereavement and appear forsaken, yet God has not abandoned him and may later restore and favor him, as He rewarded His faithful servant.
God does not always prevent the plottings of wicked men but causes their devices to work for good to those who in trial and conflict maintain faith and loyalty. He brings His children near to Him in such trials to show them their weakness and His strength. Close connection with God does not bring prosperity in the things of this life but may bring sore trial and affliction through deprivation of worldly possessions. Job's steadfastness in the might of divine power is a witness to the faithfulness of God's promises and to His abiding presence and sustaining grace, testifying to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world and to calmly repose and rest in God in the darkest, tempest-tossed hour. Though the world cannot discern his moral value with God, he has promise of an inheritance of greater value than earthly riches that will satisfy the longings of the soul, is enrolled as a citizen in the record books of heaven, and will receive exalted greatness and an enduring eternal weight of glory.