But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
In the controversy over Job, Satan scornfully charges that Job fears God for nothing because God has made a hedge about him and protected him and his house and all that he has. He claims that if Job's bone and flesh are touched and his body is struck, Job will curse God to His face and openly renounce Him. In response God places Job in Satan's hand, with the command to save his life and spare it.
The challenge leads to a trial in which Job loses his possessions and children and his bone and flesh are struck, leaving him with painful sores. God allowed Satan to afflict Job, but Job's suffering did not result from a sinful way of life. Amid his anguish Job describes his suffering as the hand of God touching him. He holds fast his faith and integrity and remains loyal amid anguish, and God rewards him. His friends wrongly treat his afflictions as proof that he is guilty before God, and thereby misrepresent God.
In the controversy over Job, Satan scornfully charges that Job fears God for nothing because God has made a hedge about him and protected him and his house and all that he has. He claims that if Job's bone and flesh are touched and his body is struck, Job will curse God to His face and openly renounce Him. In response God places Job in Satan's hand, with the command to save his life and spare it.
The challenge leads to a trial in which Job loses his possessions and children and his bone and flesh are struck, leaving him with painful sores. God allowed Satan to afflict Job, but Job's suffering did not result from a sinful way of life. Amid his anguish Job describes his suffering as the hand of God touching him. He holds fast his faith and integrity and remains loyal amid anguish, and God rewards him. His friends wrongly treat his afflictions as proof that he is guilty before God, and thereby misrepresent God.