Job | Trotting Out the Same Old Trick
The trick worked on Eve, you know.
That day, in all the lush plenty of the Garden, with all she ever needed at her fingertips but the one thing withheld just as close, Eve’s delicate foot tripped over the well-toned legs of a beautiful serpent. He seduced with his sweet stroking tongue, dripping easy doubt all over her love of the Garden Grower’s goodness.
Pacing the Most High’s throne room with his former peers, celestial beings whose alluring company he once craved, he sashayed over and across the gleaming tile clucking his tongue with disdain for those he now saw only as bottom-rung lackeys.
His smooth talk turned to small talk as he sought to make nice with the Holy One:
What have you been up to? Where have you come from?
Oh, you know. This and that. Roaming the earth, going back and forth. Always back and forth.
The Ruler of All knew His tailgating enemy could see the My Servant is Blameless sticker on the back of His throne and dared him to consider his man Job. The Lord shamed the fallen failure, extolling Job’s virtues. He was blameless, after all. Upright in every way and the greatest man alive. Everything the enemy was not.
And so the enemy found his foothold, his opportunity to revive his trickery. Surely he could shame the Holy One and foil humankind once again. The trick worked its wonders with Eve. She who had every good gift doubted the Giver. Strip this present beneficiary of all good things and see how long it takes before he blasphemes the One who’s made him who he is.
He’ll love you with his pockets full. But leave him empty and you’ll see his back.
In this test of trust, the Lord played His cards first. He held tight to the leash but let the dog loose from his kennel. In so doing, He told heaven and earth of His own trust in His servant’s true love.
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More on Job here, and to come.
Lyla,
You are an excellent writer. I won’t be the first or the last to say it. So privileged to be here reading this… not only to enjoy your gift that you share so freely, but to see what God has to teach us in it. Thankful for you… yes, I am.
p.s. God with a bumper sticker… who’da thunk it?
2012/02/23 at 9:51 PM
No. You will not be the first or the last to say it. Dang, this is good stuff.
2012/02/24 at 7:43 AM
Many times, I wish God had a little less faith in me when he lets that dog out of his kennel.
2012/02/23 at 10:31 PM
The imagery in this is just fascinating.
“Dripping easy doubt” … that may have to become a refrigerator magnet! He does it so insidiously.
2012/02/23 at 11:10 PM
Can’t stop thinking about that phrase, “the tailgating enemy.”
2012/02/24 at 8:13 AM
Found you by way of Nancy and am thrilled to read your writing. It sings. beautiful imagery and loaded with phrases that stick with you all day. Thank you for sharing your gift with us
2012/02/24 at 8:30 AM
How many times have I heard the story of the fall, but never with such vivid imagery and poignant prose. Love. This. Especially the line, “his smooth talk turned to small talk” and the line about the “My Servant is Blameless” bumper sticker.
2012/02/24 at 9:27 AM
love.
2012/02/24 at 10:41 AM
last night i watched a version of hound of the baskervilles that had a really big, black, and bloody ugly hound on the moor. let loose to the scent of the shoe that belonged to sir henry.
2012/02/24 at 11:04 AM
You won’t believe this, but there’s an episode of “South Park” in which they do the first chapter of Job. That part of the episode is irony-free. The rest is normal, offensive stuff.
2012/02/24 at 11:50 AM
I’m just going to echo everyone else and tell you I think you are a truly gifted writer dear heart. You give me clearer vision with your insightful word pictures.
I have often thought, simple soul that I am, that Job must have at some point wished the Father hadn’t brought up his name.
2012/02/24 at 2:14 PM
Lyla – I am agreeing with the crowd here, your writing is growing wings. Mult-layered, nuanced, vivid. You bring such a unique and original view to this ancient story. And you bring it home. Love the image of satan doing small-talk with the Lord (and the bumper sticker on the back of the throne. nice!)
2012/02/27 at 5:16 AM
Oooh, don’t know if I like that dog let loose idea…but that’s what’s there, isn’t it? Nice work, Lyla L. Really nice. Thank you.
2012/02/27 at 11:17 PM