What Job Did That Made God Give Release from Captivity

The backstory

It was Job’s one prayer that provided release from captivity. Job was wealthy and well-known. His herds and cattle were many. So was his wealth. And his family: seven sons and three daughters. Thousands of sheep, camels, oxen, and female donkeys. He was the wealthiest of all the people of the East.

 God and Satan had a conversation about Job. First, God asked Satan what he was doing.

“I’ve been walking to and fro on the earth,” he replied.

 God said, “Have you noticed my servant Job? There is none like him in all the earth.”

 

“Of course there isn’t,” Satan said. “Look how You have blessed him. Take away all that you have given him and we’ll see what happens to your Job.”

God gives Satan permission to do what he wants with Job’s possessions. In one day, Job loses everything except a few servants and his wife.

Satan still isn’t satisfied. He wants to do more, and God gives him permission with one condition: spare his life.

More Losses , a bitter wife, and “friends”

Satan wreaks havoc with Job. He gives Job boils from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. Job is so miserable that he scratches his skin with broken pottery. Job’s wife tells him to curse God and die. He tells her she speaks like a foolish woman. 

Job’s friends come to visit. They sit with him for seven days and nights and don’t say a word.  For the next thirty chapters, the three friends and Job discuss his situation. They have answers, they think. There is so much back and forth that one feels he is watching a debate. 

God promotes release from captivity

After his friends’ condemnation, God speaks. For the next four chapters (38-42) God talks to Job. [If you ever feel the need to be put in your place about God’s sovereignty, read those chapters in Job. It will help you. Ask me how I know.]

God not only has words for Job, he has words for Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar (those three friends). He tells them to go to Job and ask him to offer sacrifices and pray for them.

Job prays for his friends. That is when God restored Job’s losses – after he prayed for his friends. That is when God gave Job release from captivity – after he prayed for his friends.

Not only did God restore Job’s losses and give him release from captivity, he also gave him twice as much as he had before. Twice the amount of cattle as before (check it out in chapter 42). Plus, God gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. He got to see his grandchildren for four generations. He died, old, and full of days.

Job endured the trial given to him. He enjoyed his latter years. In between those events came the true turning point: he prayed for his friends.

When we pray for our friends (and our enemies), our focus is outward instead of inward. When we pray for our friends, we are asking favor for others above ourselves. Indeed, when we pray for our friends, we are following instructions of Paul through Jesus when He said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 

One of the best things we can do for ourselves – and for others – is pray for them. This guarantees our release from our own captivity.

Photo credits: The Jewish Museum/a gift of the heirs of Jacob Schiff. (Painted by James Tissot (1836-1902). Via https://freebibleimages.org