[boatbums]

So when Satan came to God about Job and basically said, “He only serves and loves you because you’ve given him so much.” In essence, who wouldn’t love a Santa-Claus God? What did God then say to Satan? “Do whatever you want to him, just don’t kill him.” What happened next we all know and we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy, yet Job in the end said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

My question is why the test? What would it prove if Job was predestined to weather everything that was thrown at him, not even knowing it wasn’t God who was doing it, because God programmed him to? Why did God even give us this tremendous example of faith at all? I might be thick as pea soup, here, but I just don’t see it. Again, I think it shows God to be so much more all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving when he is ABLE to fulfill his plan and make all things work together for good with angels and mankind free to choose or reject him. Where is the glory in creating robots?

[boatbums]

See previous post...mispelled your name...sorry!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Why the test?

God doesn't "test" His saints as if He didn't know the outcome. God is refining His saints as part of their sanctification.

God determines, and we trust in His goodness and faithfulness to ultimately do what will bring us closer to Him.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" -- Job 13:15

[Cronos]

Job is a tricky book, no doubt. This is also one of the oldest books, having a parallel in the Sumerian "Lamentations of the Pious Peasant".

I think it glorifies God more than anything by showing that even though He doesn't treat Job like a robot, God is confident enough that Job will choose Him.

God is like the ever trusting lover of humanity -- He loves selflessly and with no fear.

[Quix]

I rather agree.

However, there are mysteries along those lines that none of us on either side know fully and certainly that none of us can articulate fully adequately,

imho.