The name of our hero is “Job.”

We first meet him in Job 1:1, where else?

“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.” King James Version

In Hebrew “Job” is spelled “Iyob.”

It seems to be derived from the verb “ayab,” meaning “to be hostile, to be an enemy.”

Thus, “Job” means “hated.”

Or so say most of the scholars, those who have taught the Book for years.

Question is, hated by whom?

Not God!

The Lord loved Job, as he does us all.

Even if you believe that God allowed some of Job’s suffering to come upon him to further develop the man’s spiritual life (character traits) … GOD ONLY DOES THAT TO THOSE WHOM HE LOVES!

Hebrews 12:6 says so. “For whom the Lord LOVETH he chasteneth.” But mind you, this verb “chasteneth” is the Greek word meaning “to child train” a young person, and not always for the purpose of righting some wrong in their little life. Developmental training, “boot camp!”

So again, who hated Job?

His family did not.

He had provided them the best of everything.

Ten children!

The only individual (at least in the Book) that I can imagine hating Job was … Satan!

And he, the devil, certainly accused Job before Almighty God.

Listen to Satan “belittle” Job, his faith. “Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:9-11

That’s not “Love” talking!

And for the rest of the Book of Job (all 42 chapters) the devil would have loved for Job to “curse” God. But Job never does so!

Yes, the devil hated this tremendous man of God.

By the way, if you are saved … he hates you too.

He is called in Revelation 12:10 “the accuser of the brethren.” All the brethren, the sisters too.

But, good news, the devil cannot “touch” a child of God (as he could not “harm” Job) … without God’s prior permission!

Safe … in Jesus!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell