This morning I was reading through the book of Job, which records a very fascinating story. In case you haven’t read it before, or it’s been a while, the book centers on a righteous man named Job, who loses just about everything: his children, his land, his wealth, and his health. Still, in the midst of a terrible, painful season, with a nagging wife and awful companions, he refuses to blame God for his situation. Then, in the end, God speaks, shows his power and love for Job, and restores back everything that he lost and more.
In Job 31, we read Job’s response to his companions who had just spent many chapters trying to convince him that he had done something wrong. They whole-heartedly believed that Job had committed some egregious sin to deserve his truly abysmal fate. I encourage you to read through this chapter when you have a moment and notice how upright this man was. Keep in mind, he had no reason to exaggerate or lie or make himself seem better than he was. He was at his lowest point; he was in unimaginable physical and emotional pain, so if there was a time for honesty, this was it.
Verse 1: “I have made a covenant with my eyes” (if you want to know more about this, read A Covenant with my Eyes by Bob Sorge).
and let others bow down on her.
The entire chapter goes on and on like this. Job was completely assured that he was righteous. There was no doubt in his mind about his standing with God because he had lived an intentional, God-honoring life.
What I was amazed by is that this book was written before Exodus. Job existed long before Moses did, meaning that Job never heard of the 10 commandments. Job didn’t have a list of strict rules dictating how he lived his life and approached God, he got that from the character of God.
Because he walked with God, Job knew that God values purity, faithfulness, honor, generosity, and kindness. God is passionate about the needy, the widows, and the orphans, groups of people that God’s children have been tasked with caring for. Job paid close attention to the state of his heart, knowing that there was room for no one other than God in the #1 spot.
Though the Law wasn’t physically written yet, Job was able to adhere to it because he was following something greater: God’s heart. Job loved God and chose to love others in a real and practical way, though there was nothing commanding or requiring him to do so other than his conscience.
What a great reminder that we’re not called to be perfect, we’re called to love. Job’s life reminds us that by loving God and loving others, we’ll fulfill every one of the commandments and so much more.