We don't test our loved ones. We trust them. We test those we suspect of something. Maybe the bats are not birds, but the Book of Job is clear that it was Satan who incited God to destroy Job for no reason whatsoever. Is our God "incitable?"
“Maybe the bats are not birds, but the Book of Job is clear that it was Satan who incited God to destroy Job for no reason whatsoever. Is our God “incitable?” “
In a world where the OT is taken sincerely in a literal way, clearly our God is “incitable”. +Athanansius’ comment makes it clear however that The Church views the story of Job in a different way. The story teaches the about the fundamental weakness of the Evil One and the power of God. +Athanasius, and for that matter the other Fathers too, didn’t believe for a minute that God was cruel and/or capricious, or even “incitable”. Such notions are at odds with the patristic concept of an ineffable Father but perfect;y consistent with notions involving the edification of simple folk as +Isaac the Syrian (I think) commented.