Job 1:1-121(New American Standard)

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job ; and that man was blameless, upright,fearing God and turning away from evil.2Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.3His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants ; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.4His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would sendand invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.5When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them,rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all ; forJob said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, andSatan also came among them.7The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come ?" Then Satan answered the LORD andsaid, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."8The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job ? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."9Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing ?10"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side ? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.11"But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."12

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forthyour hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Without Job's knowing it, a dialogue took place in the invisible world. As the Lord and Satan had their strange encounter, the subject quickly turned to this well-known earthly man. The Lord calls Satan's attention to Job's exemplary life, and Satan responds with a sinister sneer. "Of course, who wouldn't serve You, the way You've prospered and protected him. Take away all the perks and watch what happens; the man will turn on You in a flash." God agrees to let the Adversary unload on Job.

And so, in today's terms, the Lord bet Satan that Job would never turn on Him. Philip Yancey refers to that agreement as the "divine wager." Satan instigates a sudden and hostile removal of all the man's possessions, leaving him bankrupt. Within a matter of minutes, everything he owned was gone.

This brings us to the first lesson worth remembering: we never know ahead of time the plans God has for us. Job had no prior knowledge or warning. That morning dawned like every other morning. The night had passed like any other night. There was no great angelic manifestation—not even a tap on his window or a note left on the kitchen table.

In one calamity after another, all the buildings on his land are gone, and nothing but lumber and bodies litter the landscape. It occurred so fast, Job's mind swirled in disbelief. Everything hit broadside . . . his world instantly changed.

You and I must learn from this! We never know what a day will bring, whether good or ill. Our heavenly Father's plan unfolds apart from our awareness. Ours is a walk of faith, not sight. Trust, not touch. Leaning long and hard, not running away. No one knows ahead of time what the Father's plan includes. It's best that way. It may be a treasured blessing; it could be a test that drops us to our knees. He knows ahead of time, but He is not obligated to warn us about it or to remind us it's on the horizon. We can be certain of this: our God knows what is best.