Thursday, September 9, 2010

Perfect Job?

While reading Job this year on the Old Testament, I read Job 1:4-5 differently this time from a parents perspective.

"4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually."

I thought that Job suspected that his sons have maybe sinned, because he had seen them sin before. Whether it is because Job's poor parenting skills or just his son's free agency choice, it is unknown.

I thought it was strange that "that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all".

Per the Bible Dictionary for Sacrifices there are several key points below that Job didn't follow.
1.Under the law offerings made to God must be the offerer’s own property, properly acquired (Deut. 23: 18). Altar sacrifices were of three kinds: sin offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings.
2. The presentation of the sacrifice at the sanctuary door by the sacrificer himself, as his personal act.
3. The fundamental idea of the sin and trespass offerings was atonement, expiation. They implied that there was a sin, or some uncleanness akin to a sin, that needed atoning for before fellowship with Jehovah could be obtained.
4. Trespass or guilt offerings were a particular kind of sin offerings. All sins were transgressions of the laws of the covenant; but certain sins might be regarded as robbery, or a violation of right, or an injury, whether in relation to (a) God directly,

From the definition, I would guess that Job was doing a guilt offering for his sons! Since his sons feasted in "their houses", the sons would have the responsibility of performing sacrifices of their own sins, not Job.  His sons would have to present the sacrifice at the sanctuary door by each son by themselves, as the son's personal act. Job had good intentions in performing the sacrifices for his sons, but the sacrifices are an individual responsibility. 

One possible modern day equivalent would be a father taking the sacrament for each of his absent children.  The covenant is between God and the individual, not the individuals parent.  Immediately after this event (Job 1:5), Job began receiving his trials.
 
The Lord commanded Job how to perform the sacrifice offerings with Job and his three friends.  When Job finally got the sacrifice ordinance right (Job 42:8-10; the three "friends" offered up sacrifices for themselves a burnt offering for their own sins and Job simply prayed for them), he was healed and greatly blessed!
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
10 And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

I am not saying that Job wasn't righteous, I am saying he wasn't perfect. Job didn't think he did anything wrong. Nevertheless, there are many that receive trials at no fault of their own.

Again like most of my ideas, I cant find anything like this in the books, so it is just my speculation so far.