In the context of this narrative, it was an assault that could only be refuted by being put to a test. He was, in effect, accusing him of being a Machiavellian ruler. The adversary, we see, was assailing God’s integrity and wisdom in overseeing the creation. Take away a person’s protection, the satan insists, and let him have his way with people, and they will stop living for God (Job 1:9-11 2:4-5). Hence, true holiness and virtuous obedience are an illusion.

There are only self-serving bargains, and obedience for the sake of being protected and blessed is one of them. There is no genuine virtue in the world, the satan is claiming. Their obedience, he is suggesting, isn’t really a free choice. God protects them from him and blesses them in other ways. The satan assails God’s wisdom and character in running the universe by alleging that people only serve him because of what they get out of it. Indeed, Yahweh has to protect people from him (1:10). Rather, he randomly walks to and fro on the earth on his own. He was not carrying out assignments from God. We see that the satan is not a being who operates under Yahweh’s authority, as do the regular council members. He has to ask him, “Where have you been?” To which the satan answers, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it” (Job 1:7 2:2).

The chance nature of the confrontation between the satan and Yahweh is captured in the fact that Yahweh seems surprised to see him.

The rebellious nature of the satan alluded to in the prologue is evidenced by the fact that he is not one of the invited guests at the council meeting of the “sons of God” (Job 1:6-7 2:1). Though he is not yet seen as the altogether sinister cosmic force we find him to be in later biblical revelation, he is nevertheless depicted as somewhat outside of, and in opposition to, Yahweh’s authority. The prologue centers on a chance dialogue that takes place between God and a certain rebel angel called (literally in Hebrew) “the satan,” meaning “the adversary.” At this early stage of revelation (many scholars believe that Job is the oldest book in the Bible) this figure had not yet acquired “Satan” as a personal name. This is important, for the point of the whole narrative, we shall see, is to expose the vast ignorance of the characters involved. In Job, this prologue serves as a literary device to give the reader a perspective that the characters in the story lack. As is customary with epic poems, it begins with a prologue that sets up the story line (chs 1-2). In this essay I’ll flesh out my reading of this incredibly profound book. Given how Christians are yet inclined to look for a divine reason behind catastrophes and personal tragedies, I think it’s a point we have yet to learn. The point of the book of Job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a mystery of a war-torn and unfathomably complex creation, not the mystery of God’s all-controlling will.

What is the point of existence